Meet the future of Africa’s Film &
Television Industry! MultiChoice Africa is delighted to reveal the 60 hopefuls
who have been chosen to be the first students of the MultiChoice Talent Factory
Academy! The candidates were chosen after a two-months long process of
shortlisting candidates from over 3 000 entries from 13 countries in Africa,
this was followed by a rigorous interview and adjudication process by a group
of film and television industry experts and regional Academy Directors.
The 20 future filmmakers chosen from Southern Africa were
selected based on their industry related qualifications and skills, as well as
their passion to narrate Africa’s unique stories. Congratulations to
Esther Tasha
Utjiwa Beukes, Ashivudhi Toivo
Nghidipohamba and Sally Ndapandula Jason
from Namibia who will represent their respective
countries at the Zambia-based MTF Academy from 1 October. MultiChoice Africa
will sponsor the students’ tuition, accommodation and stipend for the duration
of their training in each regional hub.
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.
“This year-long programme will
adequately train and upskill young African creatives by providing them with invaluable
hands-on industry experience that will give them the confidence to take on
Hollywood. I hope it will show them that it’s possible to create a lucrative
career in Africa’s film and television industry,” says broadcasting stalwart
Berry Lwando,
who will spearhead the Southern Africa
MTF Academy hub in Zambia.
During
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 with
the
knowledge and skills to contribute professionally to Africa’s film and
television industry.
As a company that is deeply rooted in Namibia,
we understand that many young, aspiring filmmakers have the capacity to learn
and strengthen their skillset to give back to their communities, but may not be
financially equipped to do so. The MultiChoice Talent Factory focuses on making
sure that those gems are nurtured and their talent developed in order to
contribute meaningfully to Africa’s creative industry,” said Roger Gertze,
General Manager for MultiChoice Namibia.
Join
the MTF social media conversation on the hashtag #multichoicetalentfactory:
- - Instagram: @multichoicetalentfactory;
- - Twitter: @MCTalentFactory
- - Facebook:
@multichoiceafricatalentfactory
- __________________________________________________________________________
For
interviews and media request, please contact:
Levana Cloete
Corporate Affairs Manager
levana.cloete@na.multichoice.com
+264 81 332 2013
061 270 5250
About
the MTF
The African continent is steeped in a
rich and diverse history of living passionately through language, art, music
and colourful storytelling. As the continent continues to change rapidly, the
entertainment industry has become ever more relevant. MultiChoice Africa has
identified an opportunity in this fast-changing environment – one that will
have a lasting impact on the industry as a whole. The MultiChoice Talent
Factory (MTF) is multi-tiered training programme designed by MultiChoice Africa
to focus on positively impacting the technical and professional value chain in
the film and television industry across the continent. As a business born and
bred in Africa we have a long-term commitment to making a socio-economic
difference in the countries in which we operate. As such, this initiative, will
help to play a positive role in growing Africa’s creative industries into
vibrant, economic powerhouses. This training programme which will be rolled out
in partnership with stakeholders across the continent, will provide the
creative industries a platform to learn and develop their talent, engage and
connect with each other through their shared passions. Working hand-in-hand
with local creative organisations, regulatory and government partners across
the continent, we use our people, facilities and network to provide young
emerging filmmakers with a tailored 12-month apprenticeship, equipping them
with the skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications to help launch a
successful career within the creative industry. Through the MTF, MultiChoice Africa’s
legacy will emphasise our commitment to enriching lives by developing the art
of inspired local storytelling and story making, while simultaneously growing
local content on our DStv and GOtv platforms and ultimately continue showcasing
Africa’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. More information available on
www.multichoiceafrica.com.
ENDS.