Search

    Select Website Language

    Film Lab Africa’s focus on television in the second phase of the programme is not a pivot. Head of Arts at the British Council Nigeria tells Nollywire it’s part of a deliberate, long-term strategy to build a more complete film and TV ecosystem.

    Speaking at Film Lab Africa: Creative Hustle, Kesiana explained that the programme’s focus on TV pilot development was always built into its design.

    “It’s not a shift,” Kesiana said. “Film Lab Africa is a three-year accelerator. Each year focuses on a different part of the ecosystem.”

    Launched under the British Council’s Creative Growth programme, Film Lab Africa was created to support emerging filmmakers, screenwriters, and episodic storytellers in developing commercially viable projects while strengthening their pathways to production and market.

    The first phase of the accelerator, which ran after its 2023 relaunch, centred on short films and microfilms and introduced participants to the business and craft of filmmaking. The current phase expands into television, reflecting the growing importance of episodic storytelling within the industry.

    “Our focus this year is TV because we recognise the role television plays in the wider sector,” Kesiana said.

    The final phase of the programme will move beyond content creation into industry infrastructure and areas often cited as critical gaps in the ecosystem, targeting distribution, sales, platforms, and festivals.

    “The third year looks at the enablers,” he said. “Sales agents, distribution, platforms, festivals—those are all part of building a sustainable industry.”

    For Kesiana, the programme’s success is not measured solely by finished projects but by access, knowledge, and collaboration.

    “A young creative gaining new knowledge is already a success,” he said. “Meeting one more person who can support their journey; that’s success as well.”

    The current phase of Film Lab Africa is delivered by EbonyLife Media through the EbonyLife Creative Academy and Iconic Steps Film Academy, combining training, production, and showcase opportunities within a single pipeline.

    According to Kesiana, that end-to-end structure combining learning, production, and exhibition is central to the programme’s impact.

    “We’re not just telling people what to do,” he said. “We’re showing them how to do it in a structured environment.”

    Since its initial scoping in 2019, Film Lab Africa has evolved into one of the more comprehensive training initiatives in the sector, with each phase building on lessons from the last.

    “We’ve seen how creatives are eager to grow, not just creatively, but as a business,” Kesiana said. “And programmes like this help them take ownership of their narratives.”

    In Kesiana’s framing, as the second phase progresses, Film Lab Africa is more about designing a pathway for the industry itself.

    The post Film Lab Africa’s TV Focus Is Part of a Bigger Plan, British Council’s Harry Kesiana Says appeared first on Nollywire.

    Previous Article
    Young Roddo vs. Lil Sammie: The Kid Who’s Got The Internet Talking — And Why The Comparison Makes Sense
    Next Article
    Canada Soccer Previews Upcoming Nike NOCTA X2 Tracksuit

    Related Diaspora Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment