A coalition of Nollywood producers has launched a grant scheme designed to support first-time directors and screenwriters, with an initial pool of funding to back up to ten short and feature films over the next year.

Organisers say the initiative responds to long-standing complaints that emerging filmmakers struggle to access production budgets despite the industry’s global growth.

“We want to open doors that were shut to many of us when we started,” one of the producers behind the initiative said during the launch event in Lagos.

Applications open next month, with selected filmmakers to receive funding, mentorship, and distribution support. Industry watchers say the move could help diversify the stories reaching Nigerian and international audiences.