by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice has opened entries for Africa for its annual MultiChoice Talent Factory film academy for the 2023 year with the course that will start in October 2022.
The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) will once again take 60 aspiring film and TV content creators for its Southern Africa, West Africa and East Africa regions for its class of 2023, with applicants who have to be emerging filmmakers with either some industry experience or a relevant post-school qualification.
For the MultiChoice Talent Factory’s 5th year, the academy directors will be Atinuke Babatunde heading up the West Africa hub, Victoria Goro who will be heading up the East Africa hub, and Christopher Puta who will lead the Southern Africa hub.
The MTF film academy’s curriculum combines film studies such as directing, sound design and the business of film, with students who get practical experience during their 12 months to work across various M-Net productions filmed across Africa.
“This couldn’t be a more exciting opportunity for African film and TV content creators,” says Atinuke Babatunde in a MultiChoice press statement.
“There are so many stories on our continent that need to be told and documented with a sense of skill and passion that only a programme such as the MTF Academy can train young people to do. I can’t wait to be a part of this journey.”
Victoria Goro who has a film production career spanning 31 years, says “As someone passionate about training and knowledge-sharing, there’s just nothing that can match the level of expertise and practical experience that the Class of 2023 is set to gain”.
“The fact that the MTF programme also results in alumni establishing production companies after graduation thereby thriving in self-employment tells you all you need to know about the success of this programme.”
Coming in with 15 years of experience in audio and video production, Southern Africa Academy director Christopher Puta says that the growth of Africa’s film and TV industry starts with providing young people with the opportunity to produce quality content.
“By equipping students with what it takes to be world-class film and TV professionals, the MTF Academy programme is effectively raising the next generation of African storytellers and historians.”
MultiChoice Talent Factory director Nwabisa Matyumza says “The continued support from stakeholders, partners and students has been overwhelming, and we couldn’t be more excited to have reached our fifth year as one of the MultiChoice Group’s leading initiatives directly investing in young African filmmakers”.
Besides the hands-on training that all students will receive as part of the programme, they will also get enhanced training experience from the Academy partnerships, which include the New York Film Academy (NYFA), the Henley Business School, Dolby and Canon.