Nigerian writer-director Cheta Chukwu has been selected for the prestigious Red Sea Lodge 2025 with his war drama Love Is a Deeper Shade of Red. The project is one of 12 chosen globally for the year-long development programme, organised by Red Sea Labs in partnership with the Red Sea International Film Festival and TorinoFilmLab.

The Red Sea Lodge, held in Saudi Arabia, offers intensive creative training, mentorship from esteemed filmmakers, and development support for emerging talent. The programme consists of five workshops, with the first reserved for selected Saudi teams and the remaining four open to all international participants. Filmmakers benefit from guidance by a Head of Studies and a Head of Script Development, alongside mentorship from industry experts across various aspects of cinema.

Chukwu’s selection underscores the increasing international recognition of African filmmakers and their compelling storytelling. Love Is a Deeper Shade of Red is produced by Manny Orwi Manny (Hello Rain, Tainted Canvas) and executive produced by Sheila Nortley, known for her work on Netflix’s Supacell and Stay Close. The project was previously selected for the Torino Film Lab’s TFL Extended Writer-Director Lab in 2024.

Chukwu, best known for his film Payday, which was acquired by Netflix and later Amazon Prime, has earned a reputation for championing strong female characters and underrepresented communities. His latest romantic comedy, Strawberry Chinny, is an official selection at the Essence Film Festival 2024, and he recently completed production on Adam Bol, a Kazakhstan-Nigerian comedy.

Speaking about his selection, Chukwu expressed excitement about the opportunity to develop his project through the programme.

“This marks a significant step in the development of Love Is a Deeper Shade of Red,” he said. “I’m honoured to be part of this platform dedicated to nurturing impactful stories from the region and beyond.”

The Red Sea International Film Festival, Saudi Arabia’s first international film festival, has grown into a major hub for regional and international filmmakers. Through the The Lodge initiative, it continues to support talents and foster global cinematic collaborations.