The Accelerate Filmmaker Project: Nurturing Nollywood’s Next Wave

The Accelerate Filmmaker Project, backed by Access Bank, is shaping the future of Nigerian cinema by giving young storytellers the training, mentorship, and funding they need to bring their ideas to life.

At the 2024 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), audiences got their first glimpse of the seven short films created by this year’s participants. The lineup included:

• Egbeji — Samuel Ajirebi

• Mofe — Ashimedua Odiachi

• The Boy from the Window — Loveth Ogbene

• Nightmare — Tega Obahor

• Purgatory — Rotipin Tobiloba

• Mi Yi Dima — Iyke Osoka

• Ovisa — Kolade Mann

These shorts explore everything from cultural identity and folklore to psychological trauma, abuse, religion, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.

What makes the Accelerate Project unique is how it combines film education with opportunity. In just two weeks, first-time filmmakers are introduced to the realities of production, storytelling, and collaboration—then given resources to bring their vision to screen.

Some films shine as strong standalone shorts (Nightmare, Purgatory, The Boy from the Window), while others feel more like blueprints for potential features. But together, they highlight why mentorship, structure, and funding are crucial in Nollywood’s growth.

As Nollywood continues to expand globally, projects like this are more than just workshops—they’re pipelines for the next generation of voices who will redefine what Nigerian stories look and feel like on screen.

By 2026, the program will have run for six years, backing dozens of young creatives. If these films are any indication, Nollywood’s future is diverse, daring, and only just beginning.