Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson’s latest documentary, Mothers of Chibok, made its world premiere at the DOC NYC Festival on November 16.
Benson took to Instagram to express his pride in the project, saying in an Instagram post: “Tonight, Mothers of Chibok, a beautiful portrait of courage and hope, makes its World Premiere at #docnycfest. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and the team that came together to bring it to life. This isn’t just a film. It’s a campaign. And it starts today.”
Mothers of Chibok follows four mothers affected by the 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping of their daughters in Northeast Nigeria, capturing their perseverance and hope amidst tragedy. The film is a follow-up to Benson’s virtual reality film Daughters of Chibok, which earned him the Best Immersive Story award at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, making him the first African filmmaker to win in that category.
In an earlier Instagram post, Benson expressed gratitude and praise to the women of Chibok. “The film presents the women as you’ve never seen them before, painting a portrait of courage, faith, and the enduring power of hope.” He added: “I’d like to thank the wonderful women of Chibok. Their strength and courage is truly inspiring. Together, we created something beautiful. Now it’s time to share with world.”
Mothers of Chibok, a US-America co-production, is produced by Impact Partners and Hunting Lane Films.
