FILM & TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
It all begins with a Sentence
Blunt Pencil Storyworks is a writer-led story studio rooted in African dramatic craft and connected to the North American production landscape. From Lagos to Toronto, we develop the stories the world hasn't seen yet.
Founded by Afe Olumowe, director of the AMVCA-nominated features When Love Comes Around and Anniversary, Blunt Pencil Storyworks is focused on developing distinctive African stories and nurturing the writers behind them.
We believe African stories can be deeply rooted in their cultural worlds while still speaking powerfully to audiences beyond them. Our work combines authentic African storytelling with a rigorous approach to story development, helping writers build ambitious, emotionally compelling projects with the potential to travel.
Through our development slate and Story Lab, we work with emerging and established writers to discover, develop, and shape original African stories for the screen.
WHAT WE DO
Three pillars. One mission.
The Studio
Professional script development for writers, producers, and streamers who understand that great stories require rigorous craft.
The Story Lab
The Story Lab — An 8-week training incubator for writers from underserved countries and communities. Independent program. Fellows own their work.
The Slate
The Slate — Original projects in script development, seeking co-production partners and strategic investors.
THE FOUNDER
About the founder
Afe Olumowe is a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker and director of AMVCA and Ghana Movie Awards-nominated features. He founded Blunt Pencil Storyworks in 2026 to build a development bridge between African dramatic craft and North American production markets.
View credits: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3393999/
From Lagos to Toronto
We operate across two continents because the stories we develop live in
both worlds. Our writers come from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Kingston, and
beyond. Our production partners are in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, and
streaming platforms everywhere.
