Favour Efe Vincent has emerged as the winner of the 2026 TSWA Film Festival Short Film Pitch Competition, securing a N500,000 production grant for her screenplay, Room 077.
The TSWA Film Festival celebrates diverse voices and original stories across genres, both within and outside Nigeria. Founded by filmmaker and cultural entrepreneur Sele Got, the festival also aims to establish Abuja as a thriving centre for film production and cinema.
Speaking with The Nollywood Reporter (TNR) about her award-winning screenplay, Vincent said Room 077 explores human isolation and its potential consequences through a fictional world where advanced technology intersects with the relationship between humanity and the self.
“I think this story matters because it is important that media representation captures the fullness of a human being and the human experience, both appealing and otherwise,” she said.
Reflecting on her victory at the festival, Vincent said she rarely expects to win when applying for opportunities and instead focuses on putting in her best effort.
“It’s more about the journey than the outcome for me most of the time. But it sure feels great to be a winner while at it.”
The professional visual storyteller and communication analyst also reflected on her journey as a writer, noting that she previously wrote mostly for an audience of friends and professors.
With Room 077, however, Vincent said receiving recognition from industry professionals has given her greater confidence in her storytelling.
“I just might be onto something,” she said.
The screenplay is still being developed, although Vincent says the central idea remains intact. She is currently considering how best to approach the story before production begins.
“I’m not a fan of excessive dramatisation, so it’s important to me that the story is told in subtlety but also in a way that the message cannot be missed.”
Vincent said the most common feedback she has received about Room 077 has centred on its unconventional storytelling and world.
“So I guess it’s safe to say that the audience should anticipate some novelty on their screens,” she said.
The N500,000 grant will support the production of Room 077 following Vincent’s win at the 2026 TSWA Film Festival Short Film Pitch Competition.
