British-Nigerian writer, Adenike Ojo has been named a Best Drama Screenplay Award finalist for her emotionally charged drama, In Hiding, at the Winter 2026 edition of the Atlanta Short Film Festival.
The award presentation, scheduled for Monday in Atlanta, Georgia, will see the screenplay compete among top entries recognised for compelling storytelling and emotional depth.
The selection marks a significant international milestone for the culturally rooted story, which explores autism, motherhood, and societal pressure.
Originally developed as a stage play set in Nigerian high society, In Hiding casts a cultural lens on autism within the African community, challenging stigma and promoting empathy while examining themes of maternal love, identity, and tradition.
In Hiding follows Bimpe DaCosta, an ambitious marketing executive navigating the glittering yet demanding world of Lagos high society while raising her 10-year-old autistic son, Olaolu.
Forced out of self-imposed isolation to attend an extravagant Lagos party, Bimpe confronts the tension between ‘cultural expectations, personal ambition, and the quiet struggle of accepting her child’s condition.’
According to report, “the drama delves into parental denial, social pressure, and the courage required to embrace difference, offering a deeply human perspective on the emotional realities faced by families dealing with autism in culturally conservative environments.”
Ojo, born and raised in Hackney, London, gained international recognition after winning Best Playwright at the 2023 Black British Theatre Awards for In Hiding, establishing her as a rising voice in African diaspora storytelling.
The project was also shortlisted for the 2022–2023 VAULT Five mentoring programme, further strengthening its creative development and expanding its global reach.
With its selection by the Atlanta Short Film Festival judges, In Hiding continues to gain international attention, reinforcing Ojo’s reputation as a playwright and screenwriter committed to socially conscious, African-centered storytelling.
NAN