The German-Nigerian Nollywood Workshop is strengthening international filmmaking partnerships, with a renewed focus on co-productions between Nigeria and Germany following the launch of a new three-year funding programme.
The 2026 edition of the initiative brought together 12 emerging filmmakers from Nigeria, Germany and Namibia to produce a short film, ÀYÀNBÍSÍ, which premiered at the German Consulate General in Lagos on November 6.
According to a press release, the programme, organised by Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, has secured funding from the German Federal Foreign Office for another three years, covering 2026 to 2028.
The renewed funding will allow the workshop to move beyond producing individual short films towards establishing lasting creative partnerships and developing larger international co-productions between the Nigerian and German film industries.
The latest edition also marks a shift in the programme’s production activities to Lagos, bringing participants closer to Nollywood and its growing international networks.
The 12 participants comprised six Nigerian filmmakers, five Germans and one Namibian, who collaborated across directing, producing, cinematography, editing and other creative disciplines.
At the centre of this year’s programme is ÀYÀNBÍSÍ, a film exploring the tensions between religious faith, ancestral traditions and society’s expectations of women.
Rooted in Yoruba cultural heritage, the film follows Gregoria, a Catholic nun born Ayanbisi, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that her dying father has chosen her to inherit his position as a traditional Yoruba drummer.
Faced with a choice between her religious commitment, family expectations and the cultural identity she left behind, Gregoria must confront questions of belonging, personal freedom and female identity.
The film is co-directed by Nigerian filmmaker Amanda Chioma Madumere and German filmmaker Richard Beck, from a screenplay by Dimeji Ogunranti. It is produced by Ifeoluwa Akowonjo and Antonia Thurner, with Jonathan Miehlich serving as creative producer.
Speaking on the workshop’s renewed direction, Senior Lecturer Mark Szilagyi said international partnerships offer opportunities beyond filmmaking.
“German–Nigerian co-productions are about more than making films together. They open new markets, bring different perspectives to the screen and create stories that can connect with audiences across cultures. That’s the future we’re building with the NOLLYWOOD WORKSHOP,” he said.
The programme also maintains partnerships with German film technology manufacturer ARRI and the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).
For this year’s production, participants worked with ARRI’s ALEXA 35 Xtreme camera, gaining practical experience with professional cinematography equipment.
They also attended the AFRIFF Film & Content Market, where filmmakers and industry professionals discussed film financing, distribution and international collaboration.
The workshop’s connection with AFRIFF is expected to play a significant role in developing opportunities for Nigerian and German filmmakers to access international industry networks and financing for future projects.
Managing Director of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Prof. Dr Andreas Bareiß, described the initiative as an opportunity for emerging filmmakers to learn from different production environments.
“Film is an international industry with very different centers around the globe. We are glad we can offer to our students a workshop at the heart of the Nollywood industry, which is so different from our own, yet so incredibly full of energy and inspiration,” he said.
Bareiß also acknowledged the support of the German Federal Foreign Office, saying it was helping to build connections between emerging filmmakers from both countries.
Since its establishment in 2022, the NOLLYWOOD WORKSHOP has brought together young filmmakers from different cultural and professional backgrounds to develop and produce films in international teams.
The programme also has an educational component. In 2028, one Nigerian participant will have the opportunity to attend the International Class at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg, Germany.
Nigerian producer Ifeoluwa Akowonjo described the experience of working with her German counterpart as an opportunity to learn different approaches to film production.
“I really enjoyed co-producing with my German co-producer. She brought a sense of calm and structure to the process, and it was eye-opening to experience how organized and thorough Germans are, especially with documentation. It was a wonderful learning experience that I genuinely loved and will always cherish,” she said.
Her German counterpart, Antonia Thurner, also praised the collaboration, highlighting the importance of communication and mutual understanding in international productions.
The workshop’s renewed focus comes as technological developments, including artificial intelligence, changing distribution models and evolving audience expectations reshape the global film industry.
Through its new funding period, the initiative aims to position emerging Nigerian and German filmmakers to take advantage of international opportunities while developing stories that connect audiences across different cultures.
