Joel ‘Kachi’ Benson: Nigeria’s VR Documentary Pioneer’s Global Triumphs
Joel ‘Kachi’ Benson, a native of Abia State, is redefining documentary filmmaking with immersive Virtual Reality. His 2019 VR short Daughters of Chibok won the Venice Lion for Best Immersive Story, making him the first African to claim that prize. He has since expanded the project into the feature-length Mothers of Chibok, focusing on community rebuilding and enterprise rather than just tragedy. In 2024, Benson co-directed the Disney+ documentary Madu, earning two Emmy nominations and a win for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary. His recent film Mothers of Chibok has also won the Willy Brandt Documentary Film Award and the Al Jazeera Award for Best Documentary Feature. Beyond awards, he mentors the next generation and challenges gatekeeping in global storytelling. Benson sees technology as a language that deepens empathy, not a gimmick. From pacing his films by real rhythms to teaching phone-based filmmaking in Lagos, he insists on integrity, consent, and presence. He predicts VR and AI will transform Nigerian documentaries but cautions that ethical practices must guide every innovation.
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