MultiChoice Announces a Major Pan-African Initiative for Film & Television industry

June 4, 2018

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• The MultiChoice Talent Factory aims to ignite Africa’s creative industries
• The 3-part initiative kicks off with launch of regional academy in Kenya
• Applications for the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Now Open!

Today MultiChoice Africa, the continent’s leading video entertainment services provider, announced a bold new Pan-African social investment initiative – the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) – aimed at igniting and growing Africa’s creative industries into vibrant, economic centres.

“The African development story has long been defined by investment in the vast mineral wealth 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 Steven Musoke, Chairman MultiChoice Uganda. “We are abundantly blessed in these areas, however, the space given for this expression has at best been limited and at worst, been relegated to the fringes of the mainstream economy, leaving in its wake, unfulfilled dreams, unexplored talent and unwritten stories. As an African business, MultiChoice, together with our valued partners and stakeholders across the continent, have collaborated to make a positive socio-economic impact in the communities in which we live and work through the MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative.”

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 touchpoints 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 programme 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 programme will take place at three regional MTF Academies based in Kenya for East Africa, Nigeria for West Africa and Zambia for Southern African countries and will be overseen by acclaimed local film & TV industry experts. In East Africa, Ms. Njoki Muhoho has been appointed as the Academy Director for the hub.
“Film making knowledge and skills that translate into enhanced livelihood, is what our youth in the creative industry desire,” says Muhoho, MTF Academy Director for East Africa. She adds: “The MultiChoice Talent Factory is the response to this cry. MTF is a 12-month long film making boot camp where the student will be taken on an experiential and practical film-making journey that will result into a highly-competent graduate who is a passionate, employable and an entrepreneurial film maker. My role is to be a catalyst to this process.”

During the course of the programme, 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.

CALL FOR ENTRY OPENS TODAY:
MultiChoice is calling all aspiring young film & TV creatives to apply for the MTF Academy from today, 30 May 2018, on www.multichoicetalentfactory.com. The Call for Entry will close on 05 July 2018. The 60 post-school MTF students (20 for each region) – will be selected from *13 African countries where MultiChoice operates -will have an exciting opportunity to hone their television and film production skills in the company of industry experts during the year-long programme that will begin on 01 October 2018.