Tunde Kelani, Joel Benson Lead Powerful iREP 2026 Workshop

Tunde Kelani iREP 2026 workshop will train young Nigerian storytellers in mobile documentary filmmaking ahead of the iREP festival in Lagos

Veteran Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani and award-winning creative director Joel Benson will lead a three-day filmmaking workshop for young storytellers ahead of the 2026 iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival in Lagos.

The training programme, scheduled for March 16 to 18, 2026, will hold as a pre-festival event before the main documentary festival begins on March 18 at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island.

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Organisers said the workshop is designed to equip emerging storytellers aged 18 to 25 with practical skills in documentary filmmaking using mobile phones and accessible digital tools.

Tunde Kelani will serve as the principal facilitator for the workshop, while Joel Benson, who won an Emmy Award in 2025 for the documentary MADU, will share insights on festival recognition and the global relevance of African storytelling.

Participants will spend three days learning documentary story development, research techniques and visual storytelling through mobile phone filming. The programme will also cover interview techniques, ethical documentary practice and the fundamentals of editing and post-production.

Filmmaker Samuel Igbedion will lead sessions on practical filming techniques, while Jahman Anikulapo will guide participants on research and editorial development. Hadizat Ibrahim will provide training focused on television and broadcast content creation.

Organisers added that the programme places strong emphasis on storytelling, visual language and ethical documentary practice, demonstrating how compelling stories can be produced with widely available mobile technology.

Young participants will also have the opportunity to interact with leading figures in Nigeria’s film industry during an industry networking session. Among those expected to attend are filmmaker and festival director Femi Odugbemi, actress Joke Silva, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, actor Antar Laniyan and singer-performer Nonso Bassey.

The initiative is intended to broaden access to filmmaking and empower young Africans to tell authentic stories from their communities while strengthening Nigeria’s growing documentary film ecosystem.

Outstanding films produced during the workshop will receive cash prizes. The best film will earn a reward of ₦1,000,000, while the second and third entries will receive ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively, alongside additional consolation prizes.

Applicants must be Nigerian residents aged between 18 and 25, possess basic literacy and communication skills and have access to a smartphone for filming. Participants are also required to have an Ecobank account, which can be opened through the bank’s digital platform.

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To apply, interested candidates must submit a 200 to 300-word statement explaining their interest in documentary filmmaking, the social issue or story they want to explore and how they intend to use the skills gained. Applicants must also provide a one to two-minute video pitching their documentary idea. Registration closes on March 13.

The iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival, organised by the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Films in Africa, will mark its 15th anniversary in 2026 with the theme “Transformation,” reflecting on the impact of documentary storytelling across the continent.