Archive July 1, 2025

Nigerian documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson has revealed that his decision to pursue a career in nonfiction storytelling was once met with scepticism, even from friends, before his recent global recognition.

“I remember when I first said I wanted to make documentaries, my friends thought I was half crazy. They were like, ‘What does that even mean? ’ ‘What’s the model behind that? ’ I couldn’t really explain it — I just knew I loved nonfiction, real stories, and unscripted TV.

“I love these real stories and I felt happy doing them. So I was like, Look, man, I’m just happy doing this. So I’m going to do it. And years later, we’re telling the kind of stories that we want to tell, how we want to tell them and putting them on these, you know, platforms,” Benson said in an interview with Channels Television entertainment.

Fast forward to 2025, Benson made history as the first Nigerian to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City.

The winning film, Madu, co-directed with Oscar-nominated Matt Ogens, tells the inspiring story of Nigerian ballet dancer Anthony Madu.

“I see myself in Anthony. Pursuing a dream that is seemingly unachievable, but you put your heart to it and, you know, let time and chance and all of that take care of the rest,” Benson said.

‘Nigerian Stories Matter’

The Disney Original Documentary Madu was honoured at the ceremony held at the Palladium Times Square, where it also received a nomination for Outstanding Direction (Documentary).

It shone in the arts and culture category, beating entries such as As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial, Butterfly in the Sky, Hollywood Black, and King Coal (POV).

The 44-second viral video that inspired the film showed Anthony, then aged 11, dancing barefoot in the rain in Lagos. It garnered over 16 million views online, leading to a scholarship offer from the Elmhurst Ballet School in the UK.

READ ALSO: Kachi Benson Wins Emmy For Disney Documentary ‘Madu’

Reflecting on his surprise win, Benson said, “It wasn’t something I was expecting, because when they mentioned all the nominees, I was shocked. But I always see wins like this not just as personal victories but for the entire Nigerian documentary filmmaking community.

“It shows our stories matter. We can tell them on the biggest platforms and hold our own. I hope this inspires someone to say, ‘If Kachi can do it, then I can too. ’”

Nigerian Doc Filmmaking Funding A Challenge

Benson used the platform to call for greater funding access for documentary filmmakers in Nigeria, describing it as the biggest hurdle in the industry.

“The biggest challenge for doc filmmakers in Nigeria is just access to support and funding to tell the kind of stories we want to tell,” he said.

“That’s something I’m really committed to right now—whether it’s training or figuring out ways young filmmakers can access funds, no matter how little, to pursue their dreams. ”

He stressed that not every production needed a big budget and said he was already in talks with stakeholders like iREP founder Femi Odugbemi on how to make documentary filmmaking more accessible.

“It shouldn’t revolve around only a certain group who have access. The more filmmakers we empower, the better for the ecosystem — and the better for Nigeria. Who knows what the next guy could do to put us on the map? ” he said.

Benson also revealed that his latest documentary Mothers of Chibok — the sequel to his Venice Lion-winning Daughters of Chibok — recently won three major awards at the Encounters South Africa International Film Festival, including Best Documentary, Best Feature Documentary, and the Al Jazeera Prize.

Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour was left shaken after fighting off a teenage thief who attempted to steal her phone at a London coffee shop before she tackled him

The teenager who attempted to steal Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour’s phone has been jailed for 22 months. The star, who appeared as Clara Livingston in the third season of the popular Netflix series, was ambushed at Joe & The Juice in Kensington, south-west London.

The 27-year-old former Team GB athlete bravely confronted the thief, Zacariah Boulares, after he grabbed her phone off a counter. Dramatic CCTV footage captured Genevieve grabbing him before wrestling him to the ground with the aid of her then-boyfriend, scriptwriter Carlo Kureishi.

During the tussle, she reclaimed her phone and hit him with it, later stating: “They didn’t expect me to stand up for myself, but I did. ”

Carlo, son of writer Hanif Kureishi, was assaulted during the scuffle and warned he would be stabbed. Recounting the ordeal at Isleworth Crown Court, Genevieve expressed how “extremely shaken” she was by the February incident.

Her victim impact statement detailed her heightened anxiety and reluctance to leave her home, saying: “I am extremely worried I might see both suspects, I felt like I emotionally shut down, and I am anxious to leave my home again. “

She admitted her fondness for Joe & The Juice but confessed to feeling apprehensive about returning and even contemplating moving away from London due to fear. She also said she was left with concussion and claimed even her dog was “traumatised”.

Echoing her feelings, Carlo shared his own unease, remarking, “I feel like being in a cafe is going to make me feel paranoid and unsafe. ” Prosecutor Alex Mullen told the court: “She ordered a drink and sat waiting for it to be made.

“While she was waiting, she noticed that the defendant walked past her. Then, a short time after, she heard a sound as if someone was very close behind her. She turned and she witnessed the defendant taking her phone from the counter. ”

She said Carlo was able to detain Boulares, but was attacked by an unknown accomplice who threatened to “f** [him] up or stab [him]. ”*

Police were called by Genevieve and other café customers as the drama unfolded. Boulares, 18, from Hounslow, admitted theft and common assault. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag from a diner at Pizza Pilgrims, and a backpack from a blind couple at Five Guys all in Kensington, within ten days.

He has 12 previous convictions for 28 offence,s including threatening Songs of Praise presenter Aled Jones with a 20-inch machete during a Rolex robbery in 2022. Aled, 52, was out with his son when Boulares, then 16, told him: “Give me your f*king Rolex or I will cut your arm off. ”

After handing over the £17k Daytona, they tried to follow him – only for Boulares to threaten: “Walk the other way or I will cut your head off. ”

Boulares served just 14 months of a two-year sentence. In court this week, Boulares appeared in a grey tracksuit and flipped his middle finger at reporters after being sentenced.

Judge Martin Edmund said: “The trauma extends also to his girlfriend. You chose to adopt a systematic lifestyle of preying on those who had more than you. ”

He said Genevieve was “seriously affected, experiencing depression and anxiety to the extent that she is considering leaving London. ” In court, Boulares was handed consecutive sentences, with five months for a theft at Pizza Pilgrims, seven months for snatching Genevieve’s phone, four months for assaulting Carlo and six months for an incident at Five Guys.

An application for a criminal behaviour order will be heard on July 9. Superintendent Owen Renowden said: “His behaviour showed a blatant disregard for others and their belongings, even going as far to admit that he only targets vulnerable people. I commend the determination of officers who brought him to justice. ”