Applications for the inaugural S16 Film Labs, the flagship development initiative of the S16 Film Festival, will open on March 5.
The programme aims to identify and support the next generation of Nigerian filmmakers, selecting four feature film projects from emerging writers and directors currently in development.
Over five months, selected participants will receive mentorship and structured guidance designed to refine their projects, culminating in industry presentations at the festival in December.
Applicants are required to submit a visual treatment, logline and synopsis. Eligibility criteria state that candidates must be at least 18 years old, based in Nigeria and early in their careers as writers or directors. Submissions must be fiction feature films in development, with applicants owning or controlling the rights to their projects and available to participate both physically and virtually in lab sessions.
Plans for the S16 Film Labs were first announced during last year’s festival. For its upcoming edition, the annual event is expanding beyond the labs to include monthly screenings, a proposed distribution arm and the development of the S16 Center initiatives aimed at strengthening support structures for independent Nigerian filmmakers and increasing their global visibility.
