Call for Applications – Fiction Producers

The Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab is a 5 day film development program that aims at broadening the professional networks and producing expertise of participants through a series of hands-on workshops and one-on-one sessions with local and international industry mentors. The residential program is designed to hone emerging producers’ creative instincts and evolve their communication and problem-solving skills at all stages of their next feature film project.

Who Can Apply?

The Great Lakes Creative Producer Lab is open to any English speaking producer formally attached to a full-length, fiction feature film. 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 the following countries: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Only one project per applicant is accepted for submission. 

We also have a slot for one producer from a Francophone African country. A comprehensive list follows below:

Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville, Congo RDC, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinée, Iles Comores et Ile Maurice, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritanie, Niger, République Centrafricaine, Rwanda, Sénégal, Les Seychelles, Tchad, Togo ainsi que d’Haïti.

Projects can be in English or French; however, French-speaking producers must submit English-translated documents

The application deadline for the program is 30th June 2025, submissions must be done directly through the application form 

Eligibility Criteria:

Producers are eligible for the program if they:
·    Have accumulated three years of professional experience within the film industry

·    Are nationals of a country from the following: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Ethiopia

·    Are able to communicate in English in a professional context

·    Have produced at least 2 short films or 1 feature film

·    Have a feature project in hand and the legal right (by way of ownership or option or attachment agreement) to produce the script

The ideal applicant should demonstrate the following attributes:

·    Entrepreneurial spirit

·    Self motivated

· Collaborative and willing to contribute to their peers

To be eligible, the producer cannot be the author and/or director of the submitted project.

Materials Required:

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

·  An application letter & Video in English (maximum 3 minutes) outlining the producer's background, a short presentation of current project (format, stage of development, needs), as well as his/her motivations, objectives, and expectations for participating in the programme.

·    The synopsis and logline of the film (maximum 200 words)

·    A narrative treatment (maximum 10 pages)

·    Project status and history (maximum 200 words)

·    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 (maximum 200 words)

·    The presentation of the production company (maximum 200 words)

·    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).

·    Chain of Title

Incomplete applications will not be accepted, and submissions exceeding the word count will be disadvantaged and disregarded  

Selection:

The selection of the participants in the program will be made by the Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab. The results will be given at the end of August 2025.

Participation details:
Selection for the programme includes: 

· Round trip transportation from the participant's residence to Uganda for the duration of the programme

·   On site meals and accommodation  

·   Engaging in the activities provided throughout the program

Application Deadline: 30th June, 2025.

Pre-Lab sessions: Select dates in September & October 2025 

Producers Lab Dates: 3rd November - 7th November, 2025

Location of the Workshop: Kampala, Uganda

Contact persons:

Habiba Gicheru
Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab
habiba@greatlakesproducerslab.com 

Samuel Tebandeke
Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab
sam@kiasitv.com 

Juliana Kabua
Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab
juliana@aftales.com