British Council unveils film lab, participants to get £100,000

The British Council Nigeria has launched ‘Film Lab Africa’, an accelerator programme designed to empower aspiring filmmakers and TV producers and boost the creative economy. The empowerment would be carried out through capacity building initiatives, technical training, mentorship and workshops with selected participants receiving as much as £100,000 pounds Head of Arts, Nigeria and Regional […]

The British Council Nigeria has launched ‘Film Lab Africa’, an accelerator programme designed to empower aspiring filmmakers and TV producers and boost the creative economy.

The empowerment would be carried out through capacity building initiatives, technical training, mentorship and workshops with selected participants receiving as much as £100,000 pounds

Head of Arts, Nigeria and Regional Lead Creative Economy Sub Saharan Africa, British Council, Brenda Fashugba, who briefed newsmen in Lagos shortly before the unveiling of the new programme said participants would be taken through a 10-week long virtual training after which mentors would be appointed to help them shape the production of their short films.

She explained that at least 60 cohorts would make the training, adding there would be pitches where the best 20 cohorts would be selected at the end of the programme with each of the cohorts getting a grant of £5000 each, which translates to £100,000.

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She said filmmakers using indigenous languages would be very much considered.

She said, “We are very interested in indigenous language films, they do very well and they do very well internationally. We are also encouraging quite a lot of people to apply with indigenous language films and we are going to support them.

“After the classes, you need to say this is what I think I can do. They are going to pitch to their peers, they are going to pitch to a panel of industry stakeholders, they are going to pitch to us and we are going to judge based on the merit of those pitches. We hope we are going to get up to the number that we have but our hope is we are supporting up to 20.”

She stated that most importantly the participants would be equipped with the necessary tools to craft compelling narratives bolstering the creative economy while fostering a new era of storytelling
excellence.

“Film Lab Africa arrives as a dynamic solution to address the challenges faced by emerging talents in Nigeria’s film and television sector.

“Recognising the immense potential of the country’s creative minds, the British Council aims to cultivate a supportive ecosystem where creative aspirations can thrive and flourish.

“This is more than a program; it is a transformative journey for aspiring filmmakers that showcases them globally. Through comprehensive capacity-building initiatives, technical training, mentorship, workshops and production grants, participants will be equipped with the necessary tools to craft compelling narratives.

“By emphasising mobile phone cinematography, short film production, and the business aspects of the industry, the program creates a pathway to prosperity by unleashing each participant’s unique creative lens using a blend of art and entrepreneurship.”

Director of Programmes, British Council, Chikodi Onyemerela, said women and persons with disability as well as people in relatively marginalised communities were encouraged to apply.