Ogoo Umeadi, a filmmaker based in Jos, shared the news on his personal Facebook page, thanking his crew and the subjects who contributed to the project, and giving credit to God for the outcome. The film’s selection was confirmed through a FilmFreeway notification marking its sixth selection to date.
The DGN Awards is the first edition of an annual honour created by the Directors Guild of Nigeria to recognise excellence in directing across film, television and documentary work. It formed the centrepiece of the Guild’s inaugural Directors’ Week, a four-day industry gathering held in Lagos from July 14 to July 18, 2026, co-chaired by filmmaker Yinka Akanbi and DGN National President Uche Agbo. Alongside the awards ceremony, the week featured an industry convention, masterclasses, panel discussions, a film and television market, curated screenings and networking sessions for members across the country and diaspora.
Submissions were open to Nigerian directors both at home and abroad, judged across fourteen categories including Drama, Comedy, Epic and Cultural Themes, TV Series, Animation, Documentary, Web Series, Short Film, Student Director, Diaspora Director and Emerging Female Director. Only films by directors of Nigerian origin, produced within the past calendar year, were eligible for consideration. Speaking when the awards were first unveiled earlier this year, Agbo said the initiative was one of the core promises of his administration, describing it as an effort to build structures that empower filmmakers, create industry visibility and open economic opportunities across the wider creative ecosystem.
No Let Dem Die’s FilmFreeway profile now lists six selections across various platforms and festivals. Umeadi’s other credits include the short film Ashawo, or an Ode to Nigerian Religious Men, which he wrote and directed, alongside production design work on Mojisola, Zauren Hikima and Blood and Rope.
The Directors Guild of Nigeria was founded in 1999 and is currently led by National President Uche Agbo. It serves as the umbrella professional body representing film and television directors across the Nigerian motion picture industry.
