Thousands of entries have been received from across Africa for the MultiChoice Talent Factory academies that will be launched in October, when a group of film-makers from Zimbabwe and other countries will start a year-long course initiated by MultiChoice Africa.
Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the month-long call for entries had received a good response, including a good selection of applications from Zimbabweans interested in taking part.
“The extensive response received from the 13 participating countries in western, eastern and southern Africa indicates that there is a tremendous need for the comprehensive educational programme that the MTF initiative will provide,” she said.
“It shows that emerging African creatives are eager to further their post-school education, as well as advance their skills and industry experience, although they are not always financially equipped to follow their passion.
“The selection process is now underway and will result in 60 of the most noteworthy candidates being given the opportunity to hone their television and film production skills during the year-long, funded programme that starts on October 1.”
The comprehensive MTF curriculum will provide participants with theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing and audio production, with a focus on storytelling.
It will be delivered at three MTF academies that will each be overseen by an experienced director:
Ms Njoki Muhoho, an award-winning script writer, heading up the MTF academy in eastern Africa; Mr Femi Odugbemi, a renowned film director and producer, overseeing the western African academy.
Mr Berry Lwando, a broadcaster with 28 years’ experience, who will run the southern African academy situated in Lusaka, Zambia.
Mr Lwando is excited about the plan for a training initiative on scale never seen previously in Africa.
He said: “Southern Africa’s film and TV industry is developing rapidly and we will contribute to positive and developmental change with the MultiChoice Talent Factory, which will give southern African young people the potential to achieve greatness.
We are exceptionally pleased with the widespread response we received.”
The MTF programme has already garnered big support from public and private stakeholders, such as governments and creative organisations, and the initiative is open to collaboration with other partners in the entertainment sector to ensure that Africa’s creative industries are transformed into even greater and more vibrant, economic powerhouses.
Interested people can join the MTF social media conversation on #multichoicetalentfactory and can follow Instagram: @multichoicetalentfactory, Twitter: @MCTalentFactory and Facebook: @multichoiceafricatalentfactory.
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