Multichoice Launches a Film Academy for the Youth

MultiChoice Africa has announced the launch of a new Pan-African Corporate Social Investment Initiative – the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF).

This Film Academy is aimed at igniting and growing Africa’s creative industries into vibrant, economic centers.

“The African development story has long been defined by investment in many industries on the continent, leaving our creative industries to fend for themselves on the fringes of economic development for far too long. As a result, the film and television industries have not developed at the same rate as other industries on the continent, and not for a lack of talent, passion or imagination,” says MultiChoice Kenya Managing Director, Eric Odipo.

For over two decades, MultiChoice has been committed to investing in the development of original African programming and showcasing it on the DStv and GOtv platforms across 49 sub-Saharan African countries.

The launch of MTF forms part of the company’s new strategy of furthering this investment through *creating shared value by using its core business resources, people, skills and networks to affect a positive change in society that yields benefits for the business and society.

The MTF initiative will deliver three touch points that launch throughout the year, the MTF academies, Masterclasses and the MTF Portal. The first to launch is the MTF Academy, a 12-month educational program aimed at furnishing 60 deserving, young, talented people who want to work and innovate in film and television production.

The MTF Academy students will be provided with skillsets to develop their talent, connect with industry professionals and tell authentic African stories through a comprehensive curriculum comprising theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production, and storytelling. The program will take place at three regional MTF Academies based in Kenya for East Africa, Nigeria for Western Africa and Zambia for Southern African countries and will be overseen by acclaimed local film & TV industry experts, Academy Directors: Ms Njoki Muhoho in the Eastern Hub; Mr Femi Odugbemi in the Western Hub and Mr Berry Lwando in the Southern Hub.

The East Africa inaugural Academy Director had this to say: “Filmmaking knowledge and skills that translate into enhanced livelihood is what our youth in the creative industry desire. The Multichoice Talent Factory is the response to this cry. MTF is a 12-month long filmmaking boot camp where the student takes an experiential and practical journey that results in a highly competitive graduate who is a passionate, employable and entrepreneurial filmmaker.  My role is to be a catalyst to this process.”

During the course of the program, MTF Academy students will produce television and film content that will be aired on our local M-Net channels across the MultiChoice platform including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, Maisha Magic Bongo, Zambezi Magic, M-Net and SuperSport to reach African audiences on the DStv and GOtv platforms. Upon graduation from the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy, the MTF student will leave the Academy with the knowledge and skills to contribute professionally to the film and television industry.