Cinetic has signed filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson for management and will help launch an original slate of non-fiction films.
Benson made history this year becoming the first Nigerian filmmaker to win an Emmy for directing the Disney Original Documentary, “Madu,” winning the award for outstanding arts and culture documentary.
“This Emmy is a win for Nigeria, for Africa, and for storytellers everywhere. It’s proof that our stories matter, and when told with care, they can travel and transform,” said Benson.
“Madu” co-directed with Oscar nominee Matt Ogens and produced by Hunting Lane, chronicles Anthony Madu’s remarkable path from a viral sensation in Lagos, captivating the world with his barefoot pirouettes, to a scholarship at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in the U.K.
Benson is based in Lagos, Nigeria where he is rolling out an original slate of non-fiction projects for global audiences. Two are currently in development; the first, a feature length documentary about one of the most successful women’s soccer teams in Africa, the second a feature length documentary about the surprising aftermath of a kidnapping.
Benson’s most recent documentary, “Mothers of Chibok,” premiered at Doc NYC 2024 and is currently playing the international festival circuit. The film looks at the women whose daughters were abducted in the 2014 Chibok Boko Haram kidnappings. It is a sequel to Benson’s immersive documentary “Daughters of Chibok,” which premiered at the 76th Venice Film Festival, where it won the Venice Lion for best immersive story. Benson is the first person from the African continent to win the award in that category.
“Stories like ‘Madu’ and ‘Mothers of Chibok’ reinforce my belief that documentaries truly can change lives,” Benson said. “They allow us to bridge divides, foster understanding, and amplify voices that need to be heard.”
Driven by a belief in the power of African storytelling, Benson intends to create a first-of-its-kind storytelling institute in Lagos that is primarily focused on equipping emerging filmmakers with practical skills in factual filmmaking and impact-driven storytelling. The institute will serve as an incubator and platform for African stories to find global audiences.
