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.
It was also nominated for Outstanding Direction – Documentary and screened at festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Lagos’ iREP International Documentary Film Festival.
Reacting to the award via Instagram on Saturday, Benson shared his excitement and reflected on the journey behind the project.
Times like this I look back and I’m grateful for the journey, the pain, and the progress. It wasn’t always easy but the Almighty remains the ultimate source of strength.
It takes a village to raise a child…so I thank EVERYONE who’s been on this journey with me — those who taught me to dream, those who laughed at my dreams, and those who told me to keep dreaming.
Thank you all. This win is for us…the ones who dare to keep dreaming even when the world is laughing.”
He dedicated the award to Nigeria and to “every child with a dream,” stressing the importance of telling “authentic and inspiring stories.”
Madu beat out several strong contenders in its category, including As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial, Butterfly in the Sky, Hollywood Black, and King Coal (POV).
