A panel of judges, including Halima Odiegwu, Emil Guruba, and Kehinde Joseph, will review entries from 17 to 20 March, after which six finalists will be selected. The finalists’ names will be revealed on 20 March during a live-streamed event on XLCreativeHub’s YouTube channel.
Shortlisted participants will then attend a one-week Screenwriting Residency in Abuja from 22 to 28 March, where they will receive mentorship from industry experts and guidance to further develop their scripts. At the conclusion of the residency, each finalist will have produced a completed movie script and accompanying trailer.
Public voting will open on 28 March and close on 6 April, allowing audiences to select their favourite script. The overall winner will be announced on 7 April 2026, receiving a professional film writing contract, potential film production deal, and shared royalties.
XLCreativeHub’s management emphasized the programme’s aim to nurture original voices in film and provide emerging writers with the tools, exposure, and mentorship needed to bring their stories to life on screen.
“We are pleased to invite screenwriters and storytellers to submit a synopsis of their original feature-length film script for consideration in the prestigious XLCreativeHub Screenwriting Competition and Creator Residency,” the statement read. “If you have a powerful story and the vision to bring it to life on screen, this is your chance to be discovered, developed, and celebrated.”
The hub urged aspiring creatives to submit their work and take a step closer to turning their ideas into a fully produced film.