Award-winning filmmaker, Bello, launches next cohort of mentorship programme
Michelle Bello, a multi award-winning filmmaker, has launched the next cohort of her mentorship programme.
Bello’s recent launch at Blu Light Film & TV Academy raises a new generation of Kingdom creatives, experts say.
Her career spans more than 18 years in the global film and television industry. Her films: Small Boy, Flower Girl, Before Valentine’s (ranked No. 1 on Netflix Nigeria and No. 2 most watched film on Netflix Nigeria in 2023), and Family Gbese (No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video in January 2025) have received worldwide acclaim and recognition on CNN, BBC, Forbes Africa, and France 24.
She channels her vast industry experience
and spiritual calling into raising a new generation of Kingdom creatives through the Blu Light Film & TV Academy.
A vision for kingdom creatives
For Michelle, storytelling is more than entertainment, it is a calling and a mandate. Her vision for Blu Light Film & TV Academy is to train, equip and empower Christian creatives to maximise their gifts, live out their God given assignments, and shape culture for Christ through media and entertainment. She believes the Academy is not just a school but a Kingdom platform where God is raising an army of storytellers to influence nations.
Founded in 2023, the Blu Light Film & TV Academy serves as a premier global institution and
training ground for Christian creatives and storytellers. The Academy’s value proposition lies in bridging a critical gap: while talent abounds across Africa and the diaspora, many creatives lack access to mentorship and industry insights with Kingdom-centered guidance.
Blu Light Film & TV Academy fills this gap by offering both professional and spiritual training, ensuring graduates
emerge with not only technical expertise but also the leadership and values needed to thrive in a highly competitive industry.
Programs, impact
Since inception, the Academy has mentored over 60 creatives from the USA, Canada, UK, Nigeria, and other nations, empowering them to produce films, launch businesses, and lead projects that carry Kingdom values into mainstream culture. The flagship 12-week Mentorship Program called ‘Discover & Fulfill Your Destiny’ provides online classes mentorship, focusing on creativity, storytelling, leadership, and Kingdom-driven impact.
Graduates have testified of transformative growth in both their craft and their spiritual journey.
In addition, the Academy launched its Filmmaking Summer Camp for Tweens and Teens in 2024, designed to nurture children’s imagination and introduce them to storytelling and media skills at an early age. Since its debut, over 30 children have been trained, sparking creativity and confidence that will serve them in the years to come.
Future outlook, call for partnership
The Academy will serve as a creative ecosystem dedicated to nurturing the next generation of storytellers across Africa and beyond. Its expansion plans include the launch of an Intensive Filmmaking Skill Training Program, designed to equip participants with hands-on technical and creative expertise across the entire filmmaking value chain; from script to screen.
This programme will complement the Academy’s existing mentorship programs and kids’ filmmaking camps, creating a comprehensive pipeline of training that supports creatives at every stage of their journey.
Like many pioneering initiatives, Blu Light Film & TV Academy is focused on scaling its programmes and sustaining long-term global impact.
To continue raising Kingdom creatives and extending its reach, the Academy is inviting sponsorships, partnerships, and strategic collaborations from individuals, organisations, and businesses that share its vision. By investing in the Academy, partners will not only be supporting talent development but also contribute to shaping a new wave of stories that have the power to transform culture.
‘Discover & Fulfill Your Destiny’ Cohort 5 launches on the 31st October 2025 and is open for registration at blulightfilmandtvacademy.selar.com.
