Tunde Kelani, Joel Kachi Benson, Jahman Anikulapo to Lead Ecobank–iREP Mobile Filmmaking Workshop for Young Nigerians
By Esther Bello
Veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani and Emmy Award–winning documentary producer Joel Kachi Benson will headline a three-day mobile phone filmmaking workshop designed to train young Nigerian storytellers ahead of the iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival (iREP 2026).
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The workshop, powered by Ecobank Nigeria, is scheduled to hold from March 16 to 18, 2026, as part of the festival’s pre-event capacity-building activities. The main documentary film festival will take place from March 18 to 22, 2026 at the Ecobank Pan‑African Centre.
Organisers say the initiative is aimed at equipping young Nigerians aged 18 to 25 with practical documentary filmmaking skills using smartphones and accessible digital tools.
Training the Next Generation of Storytellers
The Mobile Phone Filmmaking Workshop is designed to introduce emerging creatives to the fundamentals of documentary storytelling while demonstrating how compelling visual narratives can be produced with everyday mobile devices.
Participants will undergo three days of intensive training, covering areas such as documentary research and story development, smartphone filming techniques and visual composition, interview techniques and ethical considerations, as well as editing fundamentals and post-production workflow.
The training will place strong emphasis on storytelling craft, visual language, and ethical documentary practice, organisers said, while encouraging young filmmakers to explore social issues and community stories through accessible digital technology.
Industry-Leading Facilitators
Leading the workshop is filmmaker Tunde Kelani, who will serve as the Principal Facilitator, bringing decades of experience in Nigerian cinema and cultural storytelling.
Joining him is Joel Kachi Benson, whose documentary Madu earned international acclaim and won an Emmy Award in 2025.
Other facilitators include filmmaker Samuel Igbedion, who will guide participants on practical filmmaking techniques; cultural journalist and festival curator Jahman Anikulapo, who will support research and editorial development; and broadcast professional Hadizat Ibrahim, who will lead sessions on television and broadcast content production.
Industry Engagement Opportunities
Beyond the technical sessions, participants will also have the opportunity to interact with prominent figures in Nigeria’s film and creative industries during a special industry meet-and-greet.
Among those expected to engage with participants are filmmaker and festival director Femi Odugbemi, acclaimed actress Joke Silva, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, veteran actor Antar Laniyan, and singer-performer Nonso Bassey.
Organisers say the interactions are intended to expose young filmmakers to industry insights while strengthening Nigeria’s documentary filmmaking ecosystem.
Prize Awards for Outstanding Films
The best film will receive ₦1,000,000, the second-place film will earn ₦750,000, while the third-place entry will receive ₦500,000, alongside additional consolation prizes for participants.
Application Process
The workshop is open to aspiring filmmakers, content creators, and storytellers aged 18 to 25 living in Nigeria. Applicants are required to demonstrate basic literacy and communication skills and must have access to a smartphone for filming.
Interested applicants must submit:
- A 200–300-word statement of interest explaining their motivation to learn documentary filmmaking and the social issue or story they wish to explore.
- A one- to two-minute video pitch outlining their documentary idea.
Participants are also required to have an Ecobank account to participate in the programme. Applicants who do not currently have one can open an account through the bank’s digital platform.
Registration is available online at:
https://forms.gle/C3cP7Py2MJAqiPfy8
The deadline for applications is March 13, 2026.
For more information, interested participants are encouraged to visit
www.irepdocufilm.com/smartphoneregistration/
The organisers say the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to democratise filmmaking in Nigeria, enabling young creatives to tell powerful African stories using widely accessible technology while strengthening the country’s documentary storytelling culture.
Tunde Kelani, Joel Kachi Benson, Jahman Anikulapo to Lead Ecobank–iREP Mobile Filmmaking Workshop for Young Nigerians