Joel Benson’s ‘Madu’ to Premiere at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Acclaimed Nigerian documentary filmmaker Joel ‘Kachi Benson will be in the spotlight at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival as ‘Madu,’ a documentary he co-directed with Oscar nominee Matt Ogens, has been selected as the opening film of the festival.
The compelling documentary follows the inspiring journey of Anthony Madu, a young Nigerian ballet dancer, from his humble beginnings in Lagos to the United Kingdom, where he is currently honing his craft at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School.
Madu gained popularity in 2020 during the pandemic after a video of him dancing in the rain was uploaded to YouTube and gained him millions of views from across the world. His graceful pirouettes and fluid arabesques generated interest, attracting both local and international media.
In 2021, Disney Original Films engaged Benson and Ogens to direct a documentary feature on young Madu. Benson is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker, best known for his VR film, Daughters of Chibok, which won the Venice Lion in the Virtual Reality category of the Venice International Film Festival in 2019. With that win, Benson became the first African to win the Lion in that category.
The production of ‘Madu’ was announced by Disney in 2022, during the D23 Expo. “Anthony comes from a community with limited opportunities, making this [a] chance of a lifetime to pursue his dream,” said Disney Original Documentary in a release.
“Our shared journey is about curiosity and creating an understanding of different cultures through our connection with each other,” Ogens and Benson said in a statement. “Ultimately, this is a journey of discovery, growth, belonging and acceptance, a theme we both personally relate to. Making his voice heard is our ultimate drive, and we believe Anthony’s extraordinary story will make the most captivating, emotional, and riveting film either of us has told.”
‘Madu’ will open the 39th edition of SBIFF on February 7 and will premiere on DisneyPlus on March 29.