Nollywood actress and producer Etta JoMaria has been selected as one of seven finalists for the British Council Film Lab Africa 2 Producers Lab.

JoMaria emerged from a competitive field of more than 1,000 applications submitted from across Africa for the filmmaking development programme.

The Producers Lab is part of Film Lab Africa 2, a British Council film and television accelerator delivered in partnership with EbonyLife Creative Academy and Iconic Steps.

The programme provides emerging African filmmakers with training, mentorship and industry support to develop original screen projects.

Speaking on her selection, JoMaria described it as a significant encouragement, while noting that the programme had also changed her understanding of the producer’s role.

She said the training helped her appreciate producing as more than an administrative function, stressing the producer’s involvement in shaping a project’s story and creative direction.

According to her, the programme has also improved her ability to collaborate with writers, directors and other members of creative teams, while deepening her understanding of creative producing and the practical and strategic demands of taking a project from development to the screen.

JoMaria said the experience had made her more confident and deliberate about the stories she intends to produce.

She identified one of her major lessons as the need for producers to balance the story, audience, creative team and realities of production.

The actress added that the experience had strengthened her commitment to developing stories rooted in African realities while appealing to audiences beyond the continent.