Applications open for Sèmè City Film Lab

This innovative incubation program, supported by the World Bank, aims to equip young talents in Benin Republic with the skills needed to excel in the screen industries.

The Sèmè City Film Lab is an innovative response to the needs of aspiring screenwriters and content producers for film and television. This programme offers a comprehensive educational curriculum, mentoring opportunities, and access to a thriving creative community in Nigeria and beyond.

The programme places emphasis on the inclusion of young female talents, ensuring increased diversity and representation.

Types of Program

• Scriptwriting: In the Scriptwriting program, you’ll discover the underlying pillars of all great stories, and learn how to take what you have learned and apply it to the development of your own film or TV script. You’ll immerse yourself in exemplary scripts from around the world, dissecting their structures, story flows, character development and the magic that made them resonate with audiences, as well as those that did not perform well, so that you leave this program understanding what works, what doesn’t, and why.
• Creative Producing: In the Creative Producing program, you’ll learn about international best practices and the principles of producing, line producing and production management, where planning is king, and the devil is in the detail. You will learn how to produce for specific market outcomes, and gain an understanding of risks involved in TV and film production, how to work with budgets and schedules and how to ensure the production lines up with creative and technical expectations as well as investment and spend. A creative producer works closely with a director and production staff, and so you’ll also come to gain some experience of what it’s like to lead a disciplined team.

Benefits

• Sèmè City Film Lab offers the resources and support needed to make your film or series project a reality:
  • Access to industry experts: Learn from seasoned mentors, gain in-depth expertise on the screen industries, and refine your project with advice from recognized industry players.
  • Understanding trends and issues: Explore current trends in cinema and television in Africa, and develop the skills to launch a solid project aligned with market expectations.
  • Practical Skills Development: Master every step from screenwriting to post-production and transform your creative idea into compelling, marketable content.

What you will learn?

• Sèmè City Film Lab offers modules covering all aspects of audiovisual production:
  • Scenario creation and development
  • Production techniques and realization
  • Film Marketing and Distribution
  • Creative writing and storytelling
  • Project management and production planning

Phases

• Over 14 months , the program offers comprehensive training, combining theory and practice:
  • Learning Phase (6.5 months): In-person classes and online sessions covering narrative development, character creation, dialogue writing, and production preparation.
  • Production phase (7 months): Production of your projects with the support of a team of experts and access to filming equipment and post-production facilities.

Who is this program for?

• Scriptwriting
  • If you are interested in becoming a scriptwriter, script editor, story researcher, or development assistant, or you just want to broaden your existing skills-set, then this is the program for you.
  • A minimum of a High School Certificate is desirable while proof of proficiency in English Language is required. A High School Certificate is equivalent to a BEPC/BAC in France and a University Degree is equivalent to a BTS/Licence/Master.
• Creative Producing
  • If you like to problem-solve, organise people and resources, are interested in what it takes to bring a film or TV project to fruition, and how to align the planning and budget to the creative vision, then this is the program for you.
  • This will kickstart your career, whether you want to become a TV or film producer, or if you want to work in the marketing and distribution side of the business.
  • A minimum of a High School Certificate is desirable while proof of proficiency in English Language is required. A High School Certificate is equivalent to a BEPC/BAC in France and a University Degree is equivalent to a BTS/Licence/Master.

Eligibility Criteria

• Are you between the ages of 18 and 35, with a passion for film and television? Are you fluent in English and ready to commit to 14 months in the Republic of Benin? This program is open to creatives from Benin and the African diaspora.

Selection Criteria

• The admission process takes place in two stages:
  • Application Review: Your application will be evaluated for its creativity, originality, and commercial potential.
  • Interview: If your application is accepted, you will be invited to an interview with a jury of film and television professionals.

For more information, visit Sèmè City.