The British Council’s Film Lab Africa project has reached an exciting new milestone as its collection of short films produced by its grant winners is set to be acquired by major distribution and broadcast platforms, expanding the reach of African storytelling to wider audiences.
Through strategic partnerships spearheaded by the delivery partners, Afro-Wren Productions and Darimedia, these films will now be available on Video Elephant, the world’s largest premium video content library based in Ireland, as well as on leading Nigerian and African broadcast platforms, including Multichoice Nigeria and Wazobia TV, African Movie Channel, and XP Africa, ensuring these incredible stories are accessible to millions across the continent.
This development marks a significant achievement for the Film Lab Africa initiative, which was designed to nurture emerging filmmakers, provide hands-on training, and create opportunities for African storytellers to gain international exposure. The acquisition of these films by Video Elephant will open doors for global audiences to experience diverse African narratives, while the inclusion on Multichoice Nigeria, Wazobia TV, African Movie Channel, and XP Africa will make these films a staple for African households. With this partnership, the short films from Film Lab Africa will gain a global distribution footprint, increasing visibility for emerging Nigerian filmmakers.
Local, Regional Broadcast Expansion
In addition to international distribution, these short films will reach millions of viewers across Nigeria and Africa through major television networks: Waptv Channel.
The inclusion of these films on Multichoice Nigeria—one of Africa’s leading entertainment companies—further solidifies the impact of Film Lab Africa in amplifying African voices and stories across mainstream media.
A Major Step For Emerging African Filmmakers
The Film Lab Africa project, an innovation by the British Council, was designed to bridge the gap between aspiring filmmakers and the global entertainment industry. Over the course of the programme, filmmakers received training, mentorship, and production support, culminating in the creation of high-quality short films that are now gaining international recognition.
“This is a major breakthrough for the talented filmmakers who participated in Film Lab Africa,” said Brenda Fashuga, Head of Arts, British Council Nigeria, the pioneer of the project. “This is more than just distribution—it’s about impact. These talented filmmakers are now gaining access to audiences they could only dream of. Seeing their work on platforms like Multichoice, Wazobia TV, and international channels proves that African stories belong on the world stage.”
A Future Of Endless Possibilities
With the acquisition deals and broadcast partnerships now in place, Film Lab Africa’s impact is set to extend far beyond the workshop. The exposure these filmmakers will receive from Video Elephant, Multichoice, Wazobia TV, African Movie Channel, XP Africa and other networks is expected to create further opportunities for collaboration, investment, and career growth.
Olasunkanmi Adebayo, Lead delivery partner expressed his enthusiasm “African cinema is thriving, and these young filmmakers are at the forefront of a creative revolution. This partnership ensures their work reaches not only their communities but the entire world.”
As the African film industry continues to evolve, projects like Film Lab Africa prove that local storytelling has a place on the global stage. This is just the beginning of a promising journey for the next generation of African filmmakers.
