Nigerian documentary filmmaker, Joel Kachi Benson, won the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary for his film Madu at the 46th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards, held on Thursday in New York City.
Madu, a Disney Original Documentary co-directed by Benson and American filmmaker Matt Ogens, chronicles the inspiring story of Anthony Madu, a young ballet dancer from Lagos whose life changed after a 44-second video of him dancing barefoot in the rain went viral.
The clip, which garnered over 16 million views globally, catapulted Anthony from the streets of Nigeria to international recognition, eventually earning him a scholarship to the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in the United Kingdom.
Since its global premiere on Disney+ in March 2024, Madu has received critical acclaim for its emotional storytelling and portrayal of youth potential, artistic passion, and opportunity.
