Nigerian filmmaker and cinematographer Nora Awolowo has been nominated for the Prize for Young Person of the Year at the 20th edition of The Future Awards Africa, adding another major recognition to a career that has recently brought her into the spotlight for her work in Nigerian cinema.
The nomination comes after a landmark period for Nora, whose work as a producer and cinematographer on Black Market contributed to one of the most unusual cinema events in Nigeria’s history. The film’s screening at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on September 26 attracted 51,258 attendees, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening.
Nora’s nomination places her filmmaking career within a broader conversation about young Africans building influence through creativity, entrepreneurship and the ability to turn ambitious ideas into large scale projects.
She is the founder of Rixel Studios, a production company through which she has developed work across film, cinematography and visual storytelling. Her career began with photography before expanding into filmmaking, a transition she discussed in a 2022 interview with Zikoko. At the time, she spoke about her ambition to establish herself as a cinematographer in Nigerian cinema, working towards opportunities that were still relatively uncommon for women behind the camera.
Since then, her credits have included documentary projects, short films and feature productions. She worked on Lisabi: The Uprising and has continued to develop projects that place cinematography and visual craft at the centre of her work.
Her involvement in Black Market has brought particular attention to her work this year. Directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, the crime thriller follows five market women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation. Nora produced the film through Rixel Studios and served as its director of photography, contributing to a project that extended beyond a conventional theatrical premiere through its record-setting screening.
The achievement also brought national recognition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Nora and fellow filmmaker Damilola Osikoya following the Guinness World Record, describing the feat as evidence of the possibilities within Nigeria’s creative economy.
Days later, Nora was named a Canon ambassador, extending her relationship with the imaging company and opening another avenue for her involvement in visual storytelling and mentorship for emerging creators.
The Future Awards Africa nomination now adds a different kind of recognition, placing her among five nominees for the Prize for Young Person of the Year in the 2026 edition. The category also includes James Popoola, Abdul Azeez Abdulyekeen, Taiwo Aromolaran and Deborah Johnson.
Organised by The Future Project, The Future Awards Africa marks its 20th edition this year under the theme “Celebrating The Redefiners: Africa’s AI Generation”. The awards recognise young Africans whose work is shaping industries and communities across fields including entertainment, technology, entrepreneurship, governance and social impact.
This is not Nora’s first time on the awards’ nominee list. She was previously nominated for the Prize for Film in 2020 and 2022, recognition that reflected her progress as a filmmaker before her current run of wider public attention.
The winner of the Prize for Young Person of the Year will be announced as part of the 20th edition of The Future Awards Africa.
