Private Project

THE BOY WHO GAVE

A young boy makes an unthinkable choice that alters the course of his family’s life, setting into motion a journey of sacrifice, love, and resilience that tests the strength of those he leaves behind.
Set against the vivid backdrop of The Niger Delta and riverbanks, The Boy Who Gave is a lyrical and heartbreaking coming-of-age tale that unfolds as a deeply moving portrait of the sacrifice and survival of firstborn sons in Nigeria, Africa.
The Boy Who Gave asks: In giving up one's dreams, one's youth and perhaps even one's self, can something enduring be saved?

  • Allison Precious Emmanuel
    Director
    Daddy Lessons (short film)
  • Allison Precious Emmanuel
    Writer
  • Allison Precious Emmanuel
    Producer
    Daddy Lessons (short film)
  • Tonye Ibiama
    Producer
  • Jackson Iprite
    Producer
    Baecation
  • Allison Precious Emmanuel
    Key Cast
    "Owiwi "
    Hijack ‘93
  • Blossom Chukwujekwu
    Key Cast
    I Do Not Come To You By Chance
  • Tina Mba
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 58 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 18, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    153,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Nigeria
  • Country of Filming:
    Nigeria
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 50mm, 25mm, RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35.1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Africa Films For Impact Festival
    Abuja
    Nigeria
    October 30, 2025
    Nigerian Premiere
    Best Feature Film & Jury Choice Award.
  • Africa International Film Festival
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    November 7, 2025
    African Premiere
    Nominations: Best Actor | Best Director | Best Feature Film.
Director Biography - Allison Precious Emmanuel

Allison Precious is a 23-year-old Nigerian filmmaker, writer, and director whose work is driven by authenticity and emotional truth. Growing up in the Niger Delta, Africa, he was inspired by the resilience of his community and the sacrifices of everyday people whose stories often go untold.
In 2024, he won the Grand Prize at the Young Professionals in Film and Television (Lagos, Nigeria), sponsored by Sony Pictures.

His debut feature, The Boy Who Gave, is a powerful coming-of-age story set in the Niger Delta that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the quiet heroism of everyday people. With its emotional depth and striking sense of realism, the film marks Allison as one of the bold new voices in African cinema.

Through his work, he is committed to telling stories that feel deeply local yet carry universal resonance, expanding the image of his community on the world stage.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Boy Who Gave was born from a place of deep reflection on sacrifice; the kind that goes unseen, the kind that quietly shapes generations. Growing up in Nigeria, I have witnessed countless young people like Broda, whose dreams are laid down so that others might rise. This film is my love letter to them, to all the unsung heroes who give everything yet still find space to smile and love.

At 23, with my friends and the little resources we had, we told this story in our hometown. It was a grassroots effort — no glamour, no safety net — just passion, faith, and a determination to bring Broda’s world to life. We believe this film deserves to travel the world because of the emotional weight we were able to evoke, and we hope festival jurors will look past the small budget and see the heart that went into every frame.

My directing style was guided by one simple vision: truth. I didn’t want anything overly complex or experimental that would distance the audience from my people’s reality. I wanted something that felt like home; plain, immediate, and deeply human. Every choice, from the writing to the production design to the way I directed performances, was made with authenticity in mind. I wanted viewers to see life exactly as we see it, with its harshness and hardship, but also with its resilience, innocence, and beauty.

Making The Boy Who Gave as my first feature has been both a challenge and a gift. It stretched me, it humbled me, and it reaffirmed why I tell stories. This is not only a film for Nigeria, but for anyone who has ever carried the weight of sacrifice, who has ever given more than they thought they could.

This film is proof that even the smallest stories, told with honesty, can carry the heaviest truths.