Brace yourself, Africa! MultiChoice Talent Factory film & TV academies produce another cohort of talented graduates
Three Multiple Choice Talent Factory (MTF) (www.MultiChoice.com) Colleges across the continent are graduating yet another batch of talented film and television professionals. This group of young graduates join hundreds of recent MTF alumni making a huge impact on the industry.
MultiChoice Africa CEO, Fhulu Badugela, highlighted the impact of MTF on the creative industry and congratulated the graduates on their successful completion of the one-year course.
“MTF graduates continue to win awards at film festivals across the continent,” Badugra said. “They are snapped up to work on leading productions as soon as they come out of our academy, and many of them go on to start their own businesses. It’s clear that MTF alumni are helping to shape the direction of our industry. Well done to them!”
There are three MTF academies in Africa: Zambia, Nigeria and Kenya. The MTF program offers a fully funded 12-month immersive experience combining theoretical and practical training in all aspects of filmmaking. Each year, 60 students are selected from across Africa to learn from top industry experts.
MTF operates across three platforms: MTF Portal, MTF Industry Masterclass and MTF Academy. The MTF program has educational partnerships with leading local universities, including Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, Kenyatta University in Nairobi and the University of Zambia in Lusaka.
In addition to academic partnerships, MTF Academy also has relationships with international partners that provide training, course content and internship opportunities. These long-term partners include the New York Film Academy (NYFA) and Indian satellite television platform Zee Entertainment Africa, which owns and operates Zee World.
NYFA President Michael Young said: “NYFA and MTF have collaborated for many years with the common goal of providing skills training and support to young filmmakers. The film industry is global and together we promote cross-cultural collaboration. We look forward to welcoming MTF graduates to join us projects in the U.S. and explore new ways to support each other. The industry needs bold, creative and dedicated storytellers, values that MTF and NYFA believe in.”
“We are extremely pleased with our partnership with MTF and its students,” said Somnath Malakar, CEO, Zee Entertainment Africa. “The response to our masterclasses has been great, with MTF graduates making the most of their time at Zee Studios in Mumbai, and our The mentorship and internship opportunities provided to them will definitely help develop the relationship between the Indian and African film industries.”
This year, MTF students and alumni made a significant impact on the industry. Some of their outstanding achievements include:
- West Africa Class of 2024: Produced three documentaries –Revitalize the ocean, race against timeand 2070– Support the Earth Challenge Prize by highlighting the impact of climate change in Nigeria and how local communities are responding to the issue.
- Poaching: This short film directed by alumnus Adeola Andrea Peregrino won first prize in the USAID LEAP Africa Film Competition and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Film Competition Second prize and shortlisted for the African International Film Festival. It was also a finalist at the Edo State Festival.
- The short film “From Bayelsa with Love”, written by MTF alumnus Gabriel Odigiri, won the Imo International Film Festival’s Best Short Film of the Year award. Gabrielle also joins the series Omela Participated in African Magic Showcase as a writer.
- East African graduate Doreen Kilimbe: her films midnight bride She won the Best East African Film at the Uganda Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Sotambe Film Festival in Zambia, the Best International Award at the Kalasha Film and Television Awards, and the Best Actress at the Zanzibar International Film Festival.
- Isiko Abubaker: Wins the Best Sound Design award at this year’s Uganda Film Festival, making it the third consecutive year in this category.
- Scholastica Thitai: Joined Kenyan production company Live Eye and participated in TV series production reckless.
- MTF College of Southern Africa alumnus Tekla Nakale: won the Best Screenplay Award at the MultiChoice Namibia Film Festival for her film ataman.
- Angola MTF alumna Eltina Gasper: Successfully produced three short films: Luxury in trash (environmental works), Look and you’ll hear my voice (about pregnant deaf women), and Panorama Hotel (Focus on iconic buildings).
- Wathinta Imbokodo: A leading Zambian post-production company employing four MTF graduates and providing paid internships to three more.
- Wathinta Imbokodo, Zambia’s leading post-production company, has hired four MTF graduates and is offering paid internships to three more.
“It is clear that the MTF Academy program is now no longer just about providing skilled film workers to the industry and helping young people build careers,” Badugra said. “MTF graduates are now established film and television creatives who are helping to define what African cinema will look like in the coming years. We know our industry will be in good hands.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.
