In celebration of Nigeria’s 2025 Independence Day, Rollpay Africa, in partnership with Filmmakers Mart (FMM), has launched a short film initiative that offers an opportunity for filmmakers to tell their own unique Nigerian story while receiving the production support to bring that vision to life.
With a theme titled “What It Means to Be Nigerian Today,” the initiative invites bold, creative interpretations that explore the country’s complexities, culture, and aspirations. Filmmakers are encouraged to interpret the theme in any direction that resonates, from daily life and identity to culture, dreams, or challenges of being Nigerian today. Submissions are required to adhere to the following guidelines: a maximum duration of 3 minutes, a maximum of 3 characters, and the entire film must take place in a single location.
As part of the call, three standout short film projects will be selected from entries submitted nationwide. Each selected filmmaker will receive 3 million naira in production funding, with the final projects unveiled at an exclusive industry screening on October 1, 2025.

To participate, applicants must be Nigerian citizens or legal residents and submit an original story idea by July 4, 2025. There is no entry fee, and submissions can be made through the application portal.
The initiative is an extension of Rollpay and Filmmakers Mart’s shared commitment to simplifying the production process across Africa. Rollpay, a payroll and payment platform tailored for Africa’s creative economy, provides tools for managing cast and crew payments, tracking expenses, and staying financially organised across multiple projects.
Filmmakers Mart, on the other hand, operates as a trusted marketplace for film production services, connecting filmmakers with verified service providers for everything from securing permits and sourcing equipment to handling accommodation and catering needs.
Together, Rollpay and FMM are building more infrastructure for filmmaking on the continent, one that supports professionalism and ease of execution from pre-production to wrap.
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