The British Council has announced a call for applications from UK and Nigerian organisations to collaborate on the second edition of Film Lab Africa: Story Lab Edition.

This initiative aims to train and support 30 writers and 60 filmmakers, focusing on television writing and production. The programme is designed to strengthen storytelling capacity and boost content creation across Nigeria’s film and TV industry.

Established two years ago by the council, Film Lab Africa was designed to support and develop storytellers across Nigeria’s film and TV industry.

Story Lab Edition will take the form of an initial virtual trainings and a writer’s residency for writers as well as a programme of support for filmmakers (directors and producers). It will focus on TV pilot development (serial/ episodic shows) alongside continued professional training, mentorship and eventually production support.

For the writers, 30 initial writers will be selected from submitted application who post a wide range of programme (including storytelling for the screen, episodic structure, and script development) will be whittled to a shortlist of 15 writers that will awarded grants for the next step – which will include a physical story lab residency that consists of workshop, one-on-one mentorship, peer feedback and industry sessions with both UK and Nigerian experts to refine their 15 scripts.

Similarly, an online training and capacity-building programme focusing on episodic content development, pitching, production planning, and market readiness, will be organized for 60 filmmakers; out of which a shortlist of 30 will receive further support, before a final 7 will be awarded production support.

Prospective Nigerian and UK organisations/consortium interested in the partnership will be responsible for ongoing production supervision, technical assistance, and post-production support. They are also expected to support distribution and market access for grant winners, ultimately aiming for selected works showcase or consideration for broadcast.