Akinola Davies Jr.‘s My Father’s Shadow is perhaps the most prominent film tied to Nigeria in 2025. As the first Nigerian title as an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Caméra d’Or Special Mention, the film (to represent the UK at the 2026 Academy Awards) is already on the world stage to wide acclaim.
So, we got curious about more success stories of emerging Nigerian filmmakers across various formats in 2025. Each of them is having a remarkably strong year, marked by landmark career achievements and recognition.
Our list brings these filmmakers together alongside their reflections on their Nollywood journeys, highlights of outstanding projects (both completed and in development) and their personal musings on craft, ambition, and the paths shaping their work.
1. Joel Kachi Benson
Joel Kachi Benson became the first Nigerian to win an Emmy in June. His Disney Original Documentary, Madu (2024), co-directed by Oscar-nominated American filmmaker Matt Ogens, follows Anthony Madu, the Nigerian boy who went viral in 2020 for dancing ballet in the rain. And when director Benson stepped up to receive the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary, he declared, “This win is for Nigeria, and we would like to dedicate it to Anthony Madu and every kid out there who has a dream. The world is watching and waiting to hear your story.”
Benson had already made history before. In 2019, he was the first African to win the Lion Award for Best VR Story at the Venice International Film Festival for his immersive documentary, Daughters of Chibok, whose sequel, Mothers of Chibok, premiered at the 2024 Doc NYC and received the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2025 African Film Festival in Hamburg.
Benson Tells What Kept Me Up
Was it everything you hoped for? (This year, as well as your journey into film)
Honestly, it’s been more than I hoped for — not because everything went perfectly, but because of how much I’ve grown through it. This year, like my journey into filmmaking, has been a mix of challenges, risks, and unexpected beauty. When I started out, all I wanted was to tell real stories — stories that mattered. Over the years, that passion has taken me from conflict zones in Northeast Nigeria to film festivals around the world, connecting me with people and experiences I could never have imagined. Every project, every setback, every breakthrough has shaped me into the filmmaker I’m becoming. And that, for me, is the real reward — to keep growing, keep learning, and keep telling stories that move people from empathy to action.
What’s next for Joel Kachi Benson?
I’m at a point where I want to go even deeper, to tell stories that travel beyond borders but still hold onto that raw human truth that defines my work. There are a few projects in development that I’m really excited about — some exploring new storytelling formats, others revisiting themes of resilience, identity, and hope. I’m also very interested in stories outside of Nigeria. I see myself as a Pan-African storyteller, and I want to collaborate with filmmakers across the continent to tell stories that reflect our strength as a people and shift pre-existing perceptions that have been shaped by a colonial or post-colonial Western gaze.
Beyond that, I’m passionate about training and mentoring the next generation of African non-fiction storytellers, helping them find their voices and platforms to share the kinds of stories that will redefine how the world sees Africa. Ultimately, what’s next for me is a continuation of the same mission: to document the strength of the human spirit, to celebrate who we are, and to keep pushing the boundaries of how stories are told.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
My goal has always been to use film as a bridge to connect people, perspectives, and possibilities. For my craft, I want to keep evolving, experimenting with new forms of storytelling, but always anchored in authenticity and empathy. I want every frame to feel honest, every story to carry emotional truth.
For Nollywood, I think it’s time we begin to truly recognise documentaries as a powerful and equal part of our storytelling ecosystem. Why can’t our docs play in cinemas? Why can’t they compete alongside fiction films, rather than being treated as an afterthought? The truth is, documentaries hold a mirror to who we are. They help us understand our past, question our present, and imagine our future. The power of documentaries lies in their ability to make us see ourselves, unfiltered, unpolished, but profoundly human. When we begin to value that power, we elevate not just the genre, but the entire industry. Because a thriving film culture isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about reflection, education, empathy, and social impact.
On a global level, my goal is to see African stories — fiction and non-fiction alike — take their rightful place in the world. Not as a category, but as an essential part of the global conversation. And if my work can help push that boundary even a little further, then I think I’d have played my part.
Who is your dream collaborator?
I’m inspired by filmmakers like Ava DuVernay (Selma), who use their craft to challenge narratives and amplify underrepresented voices. I love films that are visually stunning yet deeply human, like Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir’s Honeyland, which is one of my favourite documentaries. But I’m equally moved by films that could’ve been shot with anything, even a GoPro, yet carry a depth that goes far beyond cinematography. Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbour, for example, was predominantly made with footage from police cams, and it’s one of the most affecting pieces I’ve seen in recent years. It reminds me that truth — not technique — is the real heartbeat of cinema. So my dream collaborator is anyone who approaches storytelling from that place of honesty and purpose. Whether they’re filmmakers, musicians, or visual artists, I’m drawn to people who believe that stories can change how we see ourselves and, ultimately, how we treat one another.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
Ari and Chuko Esiri (Eyimofe), definitely. They’ve been quietly developing an exciting new project that I can’t say too much about yet. But knowing the kind of filmmakers they are, I’m confident it’s going to be something special. I’ve always admired their approach to storytelling — it’s subtle, honest, and deeply human. And I think that’s what makes their work so powerful.
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2. Kaelo Iyizoba
Nigerian-American filmmaker and trained pharmacist Kaelo Iyizoba likes to describe himself as a trader of empathy. In March, he was selected as one of eight fellows of the Sundance Institute’s inaugural Cultural Impact Residency, a six-month program that would help him develop his historical fiction project, Birthright.
Set in 19th-century Nigeria, Birthright follows a young man secretly profiting off the slave trade of his people. As the British colonial forces and Christianity spread through the country, he is forced to choose between the westerners and the gods who once saved him as a child. Back in August, the project was also selected for the Seriesly Berlin Co-Productions Pitch and Writers’ Pitch competitions. That same month, Iyizoba was chosen for the Tyler Perry Dream Collective Program alongside 9 other international filmmakers and joined the Toronto International Film Festival Directors’ Lab for his upcoming debut feature, A Nollywood Story.
On the Unwritten+ Live Podcast with Irina Ignatiew, the Red Sands Productions founder describes A Nollywood Story as “an absurdist dramedy following a vivid young woman who gets sucked into the world of an old Nollywood film where she has to become the hero of the story to return to her reality.” The filmmaker, whose past works include critically acclaimed short film Boy Meets Girl and Mr. Bold, a thesis film that got him shortlisted for the BAFTA student award, adds, “It’s like Everything Everywhere All At Once but with a crazy Nollywood melodramatic twist. Most of the stories I want to tell are rooted in Nigeria in some form. That is what drives me.” Stills of The Spectacular Death of Prisca (An Introduction to the Nollyverse of “A Nollywood Story”) starring Genoveva Umeh have already been released.
Iyizoba Tells What Kept Me Up
You left Pharmacy for filmmaking in Columbia. Was it everything you hoped for?
I would say, everything and more! It changed my entire life. I truly wasn’t sure what was next after Pharmacy, I just knew that pharmacy wasn’t for me. Growing up, I had an obsession with the Olympics, particularly the ceremonies, and honestly, I still do, and I knew the directors of the ceremonies were usually film directors, so film seemed like a good place to start. But the process of applying to film school changed everything. I had to make my first short, write my first treatment and first script. The more I did these things, the more I realised how alive I felt while doing them. And by the time I got into film school, there was no going back, it felt like I had discovered why I was put on this earth.
What’s next for Kaelo Iyizoba?
I have two shorts in the pipeline, one in post and the other is about to go into production. I’m excited for both of them and the amazing collaborators that I’ve been privileged to work with. I’m also looking forward to making my first feature which has been in the pipeline for some time now. I hope to get that in production next year by the special grace of God.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
The film industry is going through a period of monumental change, there seems to be confusion and uncertainty everywhere, but I am low-key excited because I think it is an opportunity for Nollywood to truly take its place on the global stage. I am particularly excited by the new wave of young Nollywood filmmakers who aren’t waiting for permission, who are making bold and groundbreaking work that the world simply cannot ignore. They are the ones who will bring the streamers back on new terms and get them to recognise the true value of our work. As for my craft, I just want to keep creating with incredible collaborators and learning in the process. My hope is that we will discover or rediscover that style that is truly and authentically Nollywood.
Who is your dream collaborator?
It’s director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite), I have always been intrigued by the way he treats genre, by how he bends and molds and reshapes it to serve the story. That is something that I aspire to in my work. I am sure that there will be other dream collaborators in the future, I just have to discover them.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
Olive Nwosu! She’s a dear friend who graduated a few years ahead of me at Columbia! She recently shot her stunning first feature, Lady, and has been in post all year. I honestly, I’m not sure if we are ready for the madness it will do on the festival circuit and beyond.
3. Dika Ofoma
Dika Ofoma’s critically acclaimed God’s Wife screened at the 2025 New York African Film Festival, after showing at the S16 Film Festival (where Ofoma received the Rising Star award) and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The short film, inspired by a news article from 2023, follows a young widow pulled between her Catholic beliefs and native traditions after her husband’s demise.
In August, Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes), the indie filmmaker’s upcoming debut feature produced by Blessing Uzzi, received a Locarno Open Doors Grant (€21,000), the Prix Arte Kino International grant (€6,000), and the Sørfond Award, which qualifies the €1.3m Enugu-set romantic drama for the Norwegian pitching event later in November.
During an earlier interview with WKMUp, Ofoma, who started making films after a hiking trip in 2021, says of his success, “It reaffirms what I’ve always believed in, that stories about our people, stories that are specific to our culture, can travel, can connect with audiences who aren’t Nigerian or African.” He continues, “If, 10 years from now, I’m still making films and I still feel fulfilled by the process, then that’s success to me.” His previous works include the short films A Japa Tale, Nkemakonam, and other collaborations with Bluhouse’s Blessing Uzzi; A Quiet Monday, Zikoko Life’s Something Sweet, and the highly anticipated Obi is a Boy, which screened at the 2025 S16 Film Festival (where he won the inaugural AFP Critics Prize) and will compete at the 2026 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
Ofoma Tells What Kept Me Up
Was it everything you hoped for?
The year? It exceeded my expectations. I’m thankful for everything. As for my journey into film, I think it’s too early to look back. I am just at my beginning. I am happy to be doing what I am doing now and I hope that I continue to be happy in the years to come.
What’s next for Dika Ofoma?
Films and more films.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
I guess the goal is to keep making films and keep getting better at it.
Who is your dream collaborator?
Hilda Dokubo. Two or three years ago, I watched Amaka Igwe’s Forever for the first time and it opened my eyes to her strength as an actor. It’s a 1997 film but her role in it was very different from the docile wife/maltreated daughter-in-law she would be typecast in much later in her career. Even more interestingly, she was the troublesome, ill-mannered wife. She played that role to perfection. I’ve been curious about her since then and convinced that her depths as an actor is yet to be fully explored. I think she is one of our finest actors.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
Fatimah Binta Gimsay (Lowkey Adults, Laraba & Balarabe). She’s committed to the work, making the films she wants to make and working mostly independently as well. That’s inspiring.
4. Josh Olaoluwa
Josh Olaoluwa is an award-winning producer known for a wide range of projects including Prime Video’s limited series, Grind (2023), Netflix’s A Sunday Affair (2023), Oloture: The Journey (2024), MAGGI Tales of Ramadan (2025), EbonyLife ON Plus’s Her Perfect Life (2025); and T’egbon T’aburo, the short film that earned Carol King the Best Performance award at the 2024 Annual Film Mischief festival.
His short film, Deep Dish Dimples, directed by Manuel ‘Alex’ Villareal, premiered at the Director’s Guild of America in January as part of Film Independent’s annual First Look Screening Program on Sunset Boulevard. This follows Olaoluwa’s selection as the first International Fellow of Film Independent’s 2024 Project Involve and his enrollment in the 2023 Red Sea program, which ended with an award for his child-adventure fantasy film, Fantastic Tale. Deep Dish Dimples was also screened at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival.
The African storyteller and qualified marine biologist once described filmmaking as a disease.“I let that disease catch me,” he adds. “Even when I’m sleeping, I’m thinking of the next film.”
August saw the world premiere of his One Woman One Bra (directed by Kenya’s Vincho Nchogu) at the Venice International Film Festival as part of the Biennale College Cinema program. The film, which explores the themes of culture and identity through the eyes of Star, an African woman in the fictional village of Sayit, went on to win the Sutherland Award for Best Debut Feature at the BFI London Film Festival.
Olaoluwa Tells What Kept Me Up
Was it everything you hoped for?
I’ll say it’s been positive. I’ve worked so hard developing and shooting several projects in these past years, and 2025 felt like the year most of these works came to life. It was a great validation for me that the hard work eventually pays if you’re patient enough to persevere. I also know that this is just the start, and that makes me even more excited for the future.
What’s next for Josh Olaoluwa?
I believe it’s to keep growing. Opportunities are infinite in the creative world, and the more you strive to refine your craft, the closer you get to where you want to be in your career. So I’ll say my immediate next step is to keep putting in the work to develop and finance the other slates of films we’re planning to make in my production company. Longer term is to tell some of the most important stories that would serve as cornerstones for my generation and the ones coming after me. A lot of films inspired me to become a filmmaker, and I see myself making films that build on that culture.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
For my craft, to keep honing it. For Nollywood, I hope to inspire more curiosity in the industry through my works, to expand my genre and shape its perception positively. For the global film industry, I’d like to introduce more audiences to stories and nuances they haven’t experienced before. As an example, 1 Woman 1 Bra will be playing in Asia very soon. For many of the audiences there, this will be their first-ever introduction to this form of cinema and characters. I feel so proud saying it right now, and my goal for the global industry is to create a new experience that shapes how we are perceived as a continent and as humans.
Who is your dream collaborator?
I am already working with my dream collaborators in many ways. Most of my projects have been made with talented people who I care about deeply, and I’ll say I find myself really lucky to already be working with my dream collaborators. Orire Nwani (MAGGI Tales of Ramadan), Vincho Nchogu (One Woman One Bra), Muhammad Atta (One Woman One Bra), and many more in the works that I do not have a green light to announce yet!
Also, the work and culture Ryan and Zinzi Coogler (Sinners) are building with Proximity media is a system I dream of being a part of. Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY and Disney’s Onyx Collective are all people and systems I dream of collaborating with in the near future.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
The people in film I know are loudly having a great year as there is nothing quiet about their successes. Funmbi Ogunbanwo, the producer of My Father’s Shadow, is who I am giving this shoutout!
5. Nora Awolowo
Nora Awolowo’s June release, Red Circle, grossed over ₦100 million in its first three weeks, making the 26-year-old cinematographer the youngest Nigerian filmmaker to cross this milestone. This feature debut from Rixel Studios (a company Awolowo founded at the age of 19), follows a journalist (Folu Storms) on her dangerous investigation into a Lagos crime syndicate. “We wanted to tell a story drawn from everyday Nigerian life, something close to my heart,” Awolowo tells WKMUp in an earlier interview.
Directed by Akay Mason and written by co-producer Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, Red Circle was supported by brands like Knorr, Chowdeck, and Alt School. Nile Group also handled distribution with Fusion Intelligence leading advanced ticketing, making the film a symbol of collaboration and creative marketing within the Nigerian film industry. It went on to have a UK release and receive multiple nominations for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and Best of Nollywood Awards. But, prior to its theatrical run, Red Circle had already won the AMD Emerging Talent prize at the 2025 Global Entertainment Awards hosted in Portugal.
Awolowo, who started her career with mobile photography, is the first Nigerian woman nominated for Best Cinematography at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), alongside Barnabas Emordi, for her work in Lisabi: The Uprising. Her past works include Canon’s AMVCA-nominated short film What Are You Truly Afraid Of? and her cinematography work on various projects. In May, she received Zikoko’s 2025 HERtitude award for film. Racket Queen, her latest collaboration with Canon was screened in November.
Awolowo Tells What Kept Me Up
Was it everything you hoped for?
Yes, it was and more. The year stretched me, but most importantly, it has shown me that our potential extends beyond our current imaginations.
What’s next for Nora Awolowo?
There’s a lot in the works, but more than anything, I’m learning to stay close to the things that first made me fall in love with storytelling.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
My goal is simple: to tell stories that outlive me. To see Nollywood evolve into a space where art, vision, and culture coexist. And to see the world recognise that our stories don’t just entertain, they expand the human experience.
Who is your dream collaborator?
Viola Davis (The Help, How to Get Away with Murder) and Issa Rae (Insecure) inspire me endlessly. They remind me that storytelling has layers of performance, vision, leadership, and risk. I love how they’ve moved beyond acting to create worlds and opportunities for others. That kind of creative bravery is what I aspire to.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
Bolaji Ogunmola (Summer Rain, Gingerrr).
6. Shedrack Salami
Visual artivist Shedrack Salami became a filmmaker in 2021. In 2024, he joined the StoryMi Academy Documentary Film Fellowship, supported by the French Embassy, and received funding for his award-winning Beyond Olympic Glory.
The short documentary is about Bariga-raised female boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore, who is chosen to represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Salami’s camera sticks with her from the streets of Lagos and throughout her training period in Germany. It does not leave when she’s disqualified a day before her first fight, on allegations of doping. Instead, the filmmaker proceeds to tell a story of staunch resilience.
“Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s story struck something in me,” Salami admits to BellaNaija. “It wasn’t just about boxing. It was about identity, dignity, and becoming a symbol of hope for young Black women who are told to stay small.”
This year alone, Beyond Olympic Glory screened at the iRep International Documentary Festival, the Hollywood African Cinema Connect Film Festival (where it won Best Short Documentary), the 1st Korea Gyeonggi International Film Festival for SDGs (where it took home the Achievement Award in the SDGs Eye Section), and the Annual Film Mischief Awards (where it earned the Grand Cheese Prize for Best Film/Documentary), among other prestigious selections, including a USA premiere at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival.
In June, Salami, also known for his 2024 documentary Semblance Realism, joined the inaugural cohort of Sunny Side of the Doc’s France-based Sunny Academy residency. In December, he was announced as the third runner-up of Pexels Africa’s November Leaderboards.
Salami Tells What Kept Me Up
Was it everything you hoped for?
Honestly, this year has been more than I could have imagined. When I started filmmaking, it was driven purely by purpose, a need to tell stories that are human, raw and socially charged. I never imagined how far those stories would take me or the kind of impact they would create.
Being part of the StoryMi Academy Documentary Film Fellowship in 2024 was a turning point that opened me up to new possibilities, new networks and most importantly, the discipline of seeing documentary as both art and advocacy. Creating Beyond Olympic Glory was very personal to me and following Cynthia’s story wasn’t just about an athlete’s struggle, it was about reclaiming dignity, demonstrating resilience and understanding what it means to be misunderstood yet still show up.
I was also sponsored by the French Embassy in Nigeria to travel to France for two consecutive years, and pitch my project to top international filmmakers at Sunny Side of the Doc. In 2025, I was honored to receive mentorship from industry professionals as one of just seven participants in the inaugural cohort of Sunny Academy. And at the time of writing this, Beyond Olympic Glory has secured 12 awards across 4 continents and 13 countries. Each of these honours has been a reminder that African stories can travel and when told truthfully, they connect with anyone, anywhere.
I must say, this year has really felt like a long awaited prayer finally coming to fruition. Above all, I give gratitude to God Almighty for His faithfulness. None of this would have been possible without Him. He promised and He has done it. I also sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to this journey, my family, loved ones, mentors, collaborators and supporters. Your belief, guidance and encouragement have been invaluable.
What’s next for Shedrack Salami?
I’m expanding my work into impact-driven storytelling, films that don’t just highlight issues but actively contribute to solutions. I’m currently developing a new documentary that explores creativity, identity and survival in today’s Nigeria, a project that challenges me both emotionally and artistically.
At the same time, I’m laying the foundation for a creative hub in Lagos, a space where young filmmakers can access mentorship, resources and community. I didn’t have that kind of support when I started, so building it now feels important. I believe it’s time to give back and nurture the next generation of storytellers. My focus moving forward is to grow, collaborate more globally, and keep using film as a tool to inspire, challenge and create real change.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
For my craft, my goal is to keep evolving, to never lose the intimacy that documentary demands. I want my films to make people feel seen and not just entertained.
For Nollywood, I hope we continue to embrace the non-fiction side of storytelling. There’s a revolution quietly happening in the African documentary space with new voices and bold narratives and I want to be part of that movement that pushes the boundaries of what African non-fiction cinema can be.
Globally, I hope to build bridges between African non-fiction filmmakers and the world. I want to see more cultural collaborations, more co-productions, more Africans telling our own stories our way, but with global technical standards and partnerships that ensure those stories reach beyond borders.
Who is your dream collaborator?
One of my top choices would be Jake Viramontez (Louder), the founder of Sown for Good. I really admire the way he uses storytelling as a tool for real social impact. His model of creating powerful documentary films and giving them freely to non-profits is inspiring because it shows that cinema can be both beautiful and transformative. Jake has traveled across the world, working with communities and NGOs and he has built a global network of filmmakers who believe in mission-driven storytelling. Collaborating with him would allow me to merge my passion for socially conscious African narratives with his incredible framework for creating change. I believe together we could make stories that don’t just raise awareness but actually move people to action.
I also really admire the work of Nigerian cinematographer Kagho Idhebor (The Weekend) and Ugandan cinematographer and director Loukman Ali (The Girl in The Yellow Jumper, Brotherhood). I love their cinematography and storytelling style, there’s a way they capture emotion and tension in every frame that feels so real and powerful. Their films are visually striking but also tell stories that linger long after you’ve watched them. Collaborating with either of them would be amazing, not just to learn from their craft, but to push my own storytelling further and create films that are both beautiful and meaningful. It would be an opportunity to expand my voice and grow at a deeper level.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
I would say someone like Joel Kachi Benson. He’s someone who has been quietly having an exceptional year. Kachi has consistently pushed the boundaries of African storytelling, especially through documentary and immersive formats. This year, he made history by becoming the first Nigerian filmmaker to win an Emmy for his documentary Madu, a powerful film that follows young ballet dancer Anthony Madu from the streets of Lagos to a global stage.
Beyond the award itself, what inspires me about Kachi is his commitment to telling authentic Nigerian stories with global relevance and his success is a reminder that our stories, when told truthfully, can travel anywhere in the world.
But honestly, many Nigerian filmmakers are doing amazing work quietly, documenting, experimenting, telling truths that don’t always trend but matter so much. This generation of storytellers is shaping something profound.
7. Daniel Itegboje
For medical student Daniel Itegboje, the exploration of humanity through documentaries began in 2019 with the Canon 700D microfilm Hope for Tomorrow. But it was his next projects, The Journey to Joy and Stories from Benin, that truly refined his patient yet immersive storytelling style, rooted in empathy. “One thing about Nigerians is that we’re all suffering in some way. When you understand that, you’ll see that we’re all human in the same way,” he says of his evolution as a filmmaker to TellThatStory.
His latest documentary, O.Y.O (On Your Own), produced by StoryMi Academy and 3WM Productions (a company the filmmaker co-founded with his brothers David and Emmanuel-King Itegboje), revolves around the “Elema” boys, a group of youngsters who live in the streets of Benin. Through Itegboje’s empathic lens, we see their struggles and how they rely on one another for survival.
The film screened at the 2025 iRep International Documentary Festival, the Enugu International Film Festival (where it won Best Documentary Short Film), France’s FIPADO International Documentary Film Festival, and the Durban Film Festival, in addition to over 20 other selections at global festivals where it earned several awards. O.Y.O also participated in the Sony Future Filmmakers’ Award and was nominated for Best African Documentary at the 2025 AMVCAs.
In June, Itegboje was among the five Nigerian Storymi Academy fellows selected for the France’s Sunny Academy residency organised by Sunny Side of the Doc. In July, he was announced as one of only two Nigerian Top 50 finalists for the $100,000 Chegg global student prize. In November, he was nominated for Nigeria’s 25under25 Awards in the media and communications category.
Itegboje Tells What Kept Me Up
Was it everything you hoped for?
The journey these last couple of years has been mindblowing. My team and I just wanted to viscerally tell human stories. We have always had the passion to take audiences into people’s worlds. It has been so wholesome. We have had a lot of film festival rejections in the past but for our latest project, O.Y.O, the reception so far has been very heartwarming. It has been really wonderful seeing people from all works of life and cultures in different countries and continents connect with the film. We look forward to seeing the project bring sustainable change and transform the characters’ lives.
What’s next for Daniel Itegboje?
Daniel Itegboje will soon be a Medical doctor . I am also working on my first feature length documentary film project titled, Beyond The Horizon. The film follows a group of seven friends in their final years at the University Of Benin medical school who are forced to make life altering decisions; stay and fight at the front lines of their country’s health systems, chase their passions outside medicine or seek a better life abroad. The film seeks to transport the world into the dilemma faced by health workers in the global south and the constant fight to either migrate to the global north or find something else completely to do with their life.
What are your goals for your craft, Nollywood, and the global film industry at large?
I just want to tell stories that move people. Create films that show hidden narratives and make a difference. I love Nollywood and hope to help redefine the documentary filmmaking space here. My goal is to reinvent the idea that documentaries are simply “talking heads” by taking the audience on cinematic escapades that immerse viewers in people’s worlds and leave a lasting intimate impact, often even more than fiction films.
Beyond that, I want to expand the reach of our work and showcase Nigerian documentary stories on the world’s biggest platforms. I also have a passion to change global societal and health outcomes through storytelling. Bridging my knowledge in health and film and using that as a stepping stone to shape narratives.
Who is your dream collaborator?
I’m a sucker for community. I have a close circle of collaborators and creatives I work with, and with each new project, they remain my dream collaborators. There were times we all had to see the vision and work without pay, just pushing the boundaries of our crafts and what we could create. The journey has had its ups and downs, but the growth has been surreal. I look forward to sharing bigger stages and making globally impactful projects with them.
Who is another Nigerian (someone in film) that you believe has been quietly having a great year?
- Shedrack Salami — His documentary Beyond Olympic Glory is phenomenal and making waves. I’m so proud of him!
- Tolu Itegboje — My senior cousin and one of my biggest inspirations for becoming a filmmaker. His latest project screened at the Market section of the Toronto International Film Festival, which is incredibly inspiring.
- Joel Kachi Benson — He won an Emmy! A huge inspiration to documentary filmmakers like us who are following in his footsteps.
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