At the 2025 News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City, Nigerian documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson’s Disney film “Madu” won the Emmy award for the Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary.
The documentary co-directed by Matt Ogens was honored at a ceremony held at the New York City Palladium Times Square in May at the 46th annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
The awards, which were organized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), honored Madu in two main categories: Outstanding Documentary on Arts and Culture and Outstanding Direction (Documentary).
The Emmy-winning entry faced strong competition from “As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial,” “Bird in the Sky,” “Hollywood Black,” and “King Coal (POV),” and came out on top in its category.
The filmmaker from Abia-born Benson said, “This is a great honour,” while accepting the Emmy Award on stage, which recognizes excellence in American television journalism and documentary filmmaking. Disney and the Hunting Lane team are all very talented.
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We dedicate Anthony Madu and every other child who has a dream to achieving this victory. Your story is being waited on in the world.
Anthony Madu, a young Nigerian ballet dancer, tells his inspiring story in an inspiring video that received over 16 million views after a 44-second video of him dancing barefoot in the rain. Madu was just 11 years old when he gained international attention in 2020.
The movie follows his development from humble beginnings in Lagos to earning a scholarship to study ballet at Elmhurst Ballet School in the UK.
More Than An Honour is
Director Ogens noted that Madu perfectly captures Anthony’s struggle to find his voice in a world that frequently overlooked him in reflection on the project.
When we first met Anthony, he was just a young child searching for a world outside of his comfort zone. When it would be easier to remain silent, Madu is about finding your voice and connecting to stories of resilience, courage, and finding your voice.
What our interpretation of this Emmy Award is. A movie about accepting, belonging, and having big, impossible dreams manifests is Maudu. This recognition is more than just an honor; it is a celebration of perseverance, identity, and the common desire to be seen. This movie was created to tell a meaningful story. I appreciate your interest in it.
The American filmmaker expressed deep gratitude to Anthony Madu, Hunting Lane, @disneyorigdocs, co-director Kachi Benson, producers Jamie Patricof, Katie McNeill, Rachel Halilej, and our ideal teams in Nigeria, England, and the US.
Benson wrote in an Instagram post: “We won an Emmy!!! When things go wrong, I look back and am grateful for the journey, the suffering, and the progress. “This win is for us, the ones who dare to continue dreaming even when the world is laughing,” I say.
Ogens revealed in a 2024 interview that he wanted a co-director who was familiar with Anthony’s popular culture despite being drawn to his viral story.
According to Benson, the filming process was “personal,” and Madu wanted to record the transformation of two people simultaneously.
Benson remarked on his calling to be a filmmaker, “Storytellers like Madu are why I became a filmmaker.” They serve as reminders that the world is hungry for stories told from an authentic African perspective and that hope can spring from the most unexpected places. We all who believe in the power of documentary to alter minds and lives will be pleased to have this recognition.
The documentary had its first screening at the 2024 iREP International Documentary Film Festival in Nigeria on March 29 and made its global debut on Disney+ on March 29. It was also, among other things, featured at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Benson, who co-founded VR360 Stories, is no stranger to critical acclaim. He won the Venice Lion for his VR film Daughters of Chibok in 2019 as the first African.
Source: Channels TV
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