The Nigerian International Film Summit has added a new programme to its Lagos 2026 lineup that female creators in particular will not want to miss. The Usual Suspects Podcast is coming to NIFS Lagos 2026 as a three-part session designed to examine how to build a creative career on YouTube across Africa, and the two women hosting it bring exactly the kind of real-world experience the conversation requires.
Biodun Stephen is a Nigerian filmmaker, director, producer, and screenwriter who specialises in romantic drama and comedy films. As founder of Shutterspeed Projects since 2014, she has directed over 30 films with works streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Iroko TV. She studied Philosophy at Obafemi Awolowo University before advancing to the London Film Academy for film production training. Her debut film The Visit earned two nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2016, and her 2024 cinema release Muri and Ko crossed ₦100 million at the Nigerian box office. Beyond filmmaking, she has built one of the most consistent and loyal audiences on Nollywood YouTube, making her a credible voice for a conversation about building a sustainable creative career on the platform.
Brenda Fashugba is the Head of Arts and Regional Lead for Creative Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, with over a decade of experience as an arts manager and professional arts administrator with a focus on theatre and festivals. She pioneered and developed the Lagos Theatre Festival for over five years, growing it into the largest outdoor festival in West Africa. In 2015, she founded Women in the Arts Nigeria, a networking platform for female creatives, and co-founded the Lagos Fringe in 2018. She is also the driving force behind Film Lab Africa, the British Council’s initiative designed to empower a new generation of Nigerian filmmakers through intensive professional training. In 2018, she was recognised by the Obama Foundation and named an Obama Leader for her advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence against women.
The three-part session will cover the YouTube algorithm and what it means for African creators, the side of content creation that nobody posts about, and how to build meaningful connections across the creative industry. These are conversations that rarely happen publicly, and having two women who operate at the intersection of creative practice, institutional leadership, and audience building lead them gives the programme a weight that goes beyond the typical panel format.
The programme is free to attend but requires registration for an Industry Access Badge. The Executive Gold Badge, which gives access to the full NIFS Lagos 2026 programme, is available for ₦180,000. NIFS Lagos 2026 holds from 25th to 27th August 2026. Register now at nifsummit.com/26lagos.
