Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab

A project development lab for creative producers from East and West Africa

About

Conceived as a timely and essential capacity-building initiative, the Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab strengthens the professional foundations of the African film sector by empowering producers to develop, produce, and deliver character-driven projects with a strong sense of place - stories rooted in local realities while engaging with universal themes that resonate far beyond their countries of origin.

Since its inception in 2021, the Lab has grown into a vital space for professional development and collaboration. From 2023 onward, the programme expanded to include select West African regions in certain cohorts and began welcoming both fiction and documentary producers through strategic partnerships. Today, its alumni network spans Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, the DR Congo, Cape Verde, Egypt, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Through an intensive, week-long project accelerator, participants take part in practical workshops, one-on-one mentorship sessions, and peer-to-peer exchanges designed to strengthen creative decision-making, leadership capacity, and problem-solving skills across all stages of production.

In 2025, the Lab introduced a dedicated career track for producers not currently presenting projects in development, underscoring its commitment to long-term professional growth and industry leadership.

The Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab was founded in 2020 by Aftales Film Hub (Kenya) and Kiasi Productions (Uganda) to address a gap for creative producers in the East African film landscape. Rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a shared passion for African storytelling, GLCPL continues to foster an inclusive and dynamic film ecosystem—one that celebrates cross-regional exchange and champions the producers shaping the continent’s cinematic future.

Vision

A self sustaining and vibrant ecosystem of producers within the African continent

Mission

To increase the number of creative producers within the African continent, equip producers with the required resources and tools, to strengthen their skills in the film development stage to create greater opportunities and access to the global markets.

Fiction Producers:
Who Can Apply

The Great Lakes Creative Producer Lab is open to any producer formally attached to a full-length, fiction feature film currently in its development stage. Applicants must control the rights to the project with which they apply.

Projects do not need financing in place at the time of application. However, each application must demonstrate serious attention to the film’s budget and articulate the reasoning behind the budget level. Documentary, short film, new media and episodic projects are not eligible to apply.

The call is open to producers from one of the following countries; Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

Only one project per applicant is accepted for submission and can only be in English.

The application deadline for the program is 30th June 2026, submissions must be done directly through the application form

Documentary Producers:
Who Can Apply

The Great Lakes Creative Producer Lab is open to any producer formally attached to a documentary film currently in its development stage. Applicants must own the IP rights to the project with which they apply and must have a director attached to the project.

The call is open to producers from one of the following countries; Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Ethiopia. One producer per country will be selected for the Documentary Lab.

Only one project per applicant is accepted for submission and can only be in English.

The application deadline for the program is 30th June 2026, submissions must be done directly through the application form

How to Apply

Fiction Producers

Selection:

Application file (in French or English) which is composed of the completed application form, along with the following documents:

A cover letter expressing interest in the programme (maximum 250 words)
A video in English, at most 3 minutes, presenting the producer's background, current project details (format, development stage, and requirements), motivations, objectives, and expectations for participation in the programme
The synopsis and logline of the film (200 words max)
A narrative treatment (maximum 10 pages)
Project status and history (200 words max)
Look book (if available)
The producer’s note of intent (maximum 1 page and 200 words).
The curriculum vitae (focused on the filmography) of the producer (200 words max).
The presentation of the production company (200 words max).
Budget top sheet and finance plan (in local currency and in euros).
Finance plan
A copy of the passport of the producer to determine proof of citizenship.
A high resolution image of the producer.
A Vimeo or Youtube link from the director’s last film, subtitled in French or English (short and feature films are accepted)
Proof of Chain of Title

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Click Here to Apply

Documentary Producers

Selection:

Application file (in French or English) which should be composed of the completed application form, along with the following documents:

A cover letter expressing interest in the programme (maximum 250 words)
A video in English, at most 3 minutes, presenting the producer's background, current project details (format, development stage, and requirements), motivations, objectives, and expectations for participation in the programme
The synopsis and logline of the film.
A narrative treatment (maximum 10 pages).
Project status and history.
Look book (if available).
The producer’s note of intent (maximum 1 page).
The curriculum vitae (focused on the filmography) of the producer.
The presentation of the production company.
Budget top sheet and finance plan (in local currency and in euros).
A copy of the passport of the producer to determine proof of citizenship.
A highresolution image of the producer.
A Vimeo or Youtube link from the director’s last film, subtitled in French or
English (short films and feature films are accepted).
Chain of Title