Deadline: Unspecified
Applications are invited for the British Council Film Lab Africa 2026. Film Lab Africa is the British Council’s flagship film and TV accelerator programme in Nigeria designed to equip, connect, and showcase a new generation of storytellers and filmmakers across the continent.
Following the success and learnings from the 2023/24 pilot, Film Lab Africa returns as a more ambitious and targeted programme designed to:
- Deepen the development of emerging screenwriting, storytelling, and production talent in Nigeria
- Encourage co-creation between Nigeria and the UK
- Position African content for global visibility and market access
- Contribute to inclusion, sustainability, and innovation in the creative economy
This edition is themed “Story Lab” and focuses specifically on scripted episodic content and storytelling for screen and television, expanding the reach of the programme across both creative and industry value chains.
Program Structure
Film Lab 2 is structured into a six-phase delivery cycle:
- Scriptwriters’ Online Training
- 30 scriptwriters selected through an open call
- Virtual workshops on storytelling, character development, series formatting, pitching, and sustainability
- Writers’ Residency & Story Lab
- 15 writers shortlisted for an in-person residency in Lagos or London
- Intensive mentorship and collaborative writing labs with UK and Nigerian experts
- Filmmakers’ Online Training
- 60 directors and producers undergo capacity development in:
- Episodic content creation
- Pitching and packaging for distributors and broadcasters
- Inclusive storytelling and climate narrative
- Production & Grant Support
- Selected filmmakers awarded production grants to create pilot episodes
- Full script-to-screen guidance, funding, and mentorship
- Showcasing & Distribution
- Final outputs from writers, filmmakers, and grantees showcased locally and internationally
- Industry screenings, festival submissions, and market pitching
- Industry Engagement & Advocacy
- Creative hustles
- Film Club
- Other related areas
Eligibility
- Filmmaker must be aged 18 – 35years old.
- Must have produced a web and a non-web content with a minimum of one credit.
- Must have a script ready for development and production to upload.
- Must have a production bible to upload.
- It is necessary to complete the British Council E-learning programme to be selected.
Application
For more information, visit British Council.
