- …Poised to celebrate excellence, industry growth
By Florence Allor
The Directors Guild of Nigeria,.DGN, has officially unveiled the maiden edition of the DGN Awards and Directors’ Week 2026, an initiative aimed at celebrating directing excellence, promoting professional development and strengthening the global relevance of Nigerian filmmakers.
According to a statement signed by Emmanuel Eyaba, Public Relations Officer of the Guild, the event is scheduled to hold from July 14 to 18, 2026, in Lagos and is expected to bring together directors, producers, studios, distributors, broadcasters, investors, policymakers and other key stakeholders within the creative industry.
According to him, the initiative is conceived as a premier annual gathering designed to create sustainable industry opportunities while advancing the growth of Nigeria’s film and television sector.
“At the centre of the event is the DGN Awards, a platform established to honour directors whose creativity, leadership and storytelling continue to shape the Nigerian and African screen industries,” Eyaba revealed in the statement.
“The Awards Committee will be jointly chaired by renowned filmmaker Yinka Akanbi and the DGN National President, Uche Agbo.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Agbo described the project as a fulfilment of his administration’s commitment to reposition the Guild and institutionalise globally recognised standards for Nigerian directors.
“The DGN Awards and Directors’ Week represent a new era for Nigerian directors. This initiative is not just about celebration; it is about building structures that empower filmmakers, encourage excellence, create industry visibility and open economic opportunities for our members and the larger creative ecosystem,” he said.
He added that the initiative was also designed to elevate the value and visibility of directors both locally and internationally.
“With the launch of the DGN Awards and Directors’ Week, we are taking a bold step toward creating a globally respected platform that reflects the power, creativity and influence of Nigerian storytellers,” Agbo stated.
Beyond the awards ceremony, the DGN Directors’ Week will feature a series of activities including the Guild’s annual convention, masterclasses facilitated by industry experts, panel discussions on emerging trends and challenges, film and television markets, curated screenings, as well as networking and collaboration sessions for professionals across the industry.
The Guild noted that the initiative was deliberately structured to reflect African realities while maintaining global standards of professionalism, credibility and sustainability.
Meanwhile, the Guild has called on directors across Nigeria and the diaspora to submit entries for the inaugural awards through the official submission portal.
Award categories include Best Director (Drama), Best Director (Comedy), Best Director (Epic/Cultural Themes), Best Director (TV Series), Best Director (Animation), Best Director (Web Series), Best Director (Documentary), Best Student Director, Emerging Female Director Award and Best First Time Director, among others.
The Guild also appealed to corporate organisations, investors, development institutions, media platforms, diplomatic missions and other stakeholders to partner with it in delivering what it described as a historic initiative for the African creative industry.
