Veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani and creative director Joel Benson will headline a three‑day mobile phone filmmaking workshop for young Nigerian storytellers ahead of the 2026 iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival.
The workshop, supported by Ecobank Nigeria, will run from March 16 to 18, as a pre‑festival programme. The main festival will run from March 18 to 22, at the Ecobank Pan‑African Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The workshop is designed for emerging storytellers aged 18 to 25 and will teach practical skills in documentary filmmaking using mobile phones and widely available digital tools.
Participants will spend three days learning story development and documentary research, mobile phone filming techniques and visual composition, interview techniques and ethical considerations, and editing basics, including post‑production workflow.
According to the organisers, the programme “places strong emphasis on storytelling, visual language, and ethical documentary practice while demonstrating how powerful stories can be produced using readily available mobile technology.”
Kelani will serve as principal facilitator. Benson, a 2025 Emmy Award winner for his documentary MADU, will speak on festival recognition and global relevance. Samuel Igbedion will guide practical filmmaking techniques, while Jahman Anikulapo covers research and editorial development. Hadizat Ibrahim will focus on television and broadcast content creation.
Participants will also meet leading figures in Nigeria’s film industry during an industry meet‑and‑greet session. Those expected to attend include filmmaker and festival director Femi Odugbemi, actress Joke Silva, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, actor Antar Laniyan and singer‑performer Nonso Bassey.
Organisers say the initiative aims to make filmmaking more accessible, empower young Africans to tell their own stories and support growth in Nigeria’s documentary film scene.
Outstanding films produced during the workshop will receive cash prizes. The best film will receive N1,000,000, second place N750,000, and third place N500,000, with other consolation awards available.
The workshop is open to aspiring filmmakers, content creators, and storytellers aged 18 to 25 who live in Nigeria. Applicants need basic literacy and communication skills and must have a smartphone for filming. They must also have an Ecobank account, which can be opened on the bank’s digital platform.
The iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival, convened by the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Films in Africa, is one of Africa’s leading platforms for documentary cinema. It will mark its 15th anniversary in 2026 with the theme “Transformation,” exploring the impact of documentary filmmaking across the continent over the past 15 years. The festival programme will feature screenings, panel discussions, workshops and networking events that bring together filmmakers, scholars, policymakers, students and enthusiasts from across Africa and beyond.
