Nigerian short film The Brilliant Boy has been named Jury’s Overall Winner at the Lift-Off Global Network’s First-Time Filmmaker Sessions.
The organisers announced the film’s triumph on their website, describing it as a compelling narrative that stood out among numerous global entries.
According to the Lift-Off platform, The Brilliant Boy “is a biographical fictional story that dives into the life of Nathaniel, an autistic genius that dies at an early age. The story entails themes of regret, desire and remorse. In the heartwarming tale of untapped potential and unfulfilled dreams, a young autistic boy with a remarkable gift for mathematics becomes the help to a mathematician.”
Directed by Emeka Ekeh and written by Emmanuel Patrick, the film was produced by Zainab Yunusa.
The Lift-Off Network, which connects emerging voices to audiences worldwide, praised the film’s powerful storytelling and fresh perspective, particularly its focus on autism and giftedness.
Their platform added that the First-Time Filmmaker Sessions is not just about commercial distribution but about “providing a screening opportunity for everyone, connecting these new and emerging voices with new audiences.”
Winning the Jury’s Overall prize places The Brilliant Boy in strong contention for a nomination at the Lift-Off Season Awards, an annual recognition held at the historic Pinewood Studios in the UK. Previous winners at the event have secured Oscar nominations and major distribution deals.
The recognition also comes at a time when stories highlighting neurodiversity are beginning to gain prominence in African cinema.
The Brilliant Boy adds to the growing list of Nigerian films making waves internationally, including Mami Wata, All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White and I Do Not Come to You by Chance.
