Multichoice launches Talent Factory to enhance Film and TV production

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

The MTF initiative has three main focus areas, which would run throughout the year including the MTF Academies, MTF Masterclasses and the MTF Portal.

But the first to be launched is the MTF Academies which is a 12-month educational programme aimed at preparing deserving, young, talented people to be innovative in film and television production.

The program according to organisers would take place at three regional MTF Academy centers, which would be based in Nigeria for West Africa, Kenya for East Africa and Zambia for Southern African countries with monitoring experts from the film and TV industry.

The MTF Academy selected students would produce television and film content that will be aired on local M-Net channels across the MultiChoice platform including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, etc. to reach African audiences on the DStv and GOtv platforms.

Speaking at the launch in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Cecil Sunkwa Mills, General Manager of Multichoice Ghana, said beneficiaries of the Multichoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy would be provided with the opportunity 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.

“Born and bred in Africa, MultiChoice is always looking for opportunities to positively impacting the technical and professional value chain in the film and television industry across the continent. Our commitment to enriching lives, in partnership with stakeholders across Africa, while investing in igniting Africa’s creative industries has brought us to this groundbreaking Corporate Social Value Initiative we are launching this and bred in Africa.

“MultiChoice is always looking for opportunities to positively impacting the technical and professional value chain in the film and television industry across the continent.

“Our commitment to enriching lives, in partnership with stakeholders across Africa, while investing in igniting Africa’s creative industries has brought us to this groundbreaking Corporate Social Value Initiative we are launching this afternoon the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF),” Mr Sunkwa said.

“We are excited about this initiative as it reaffirms MultiChoice commitment to supporting emerging local talent and creating a future pipeline for local content. As the leading video entertainment platform (DStv and GOtv) in Africa, our new initiative MTF, resonates with our pledge of promoting sustainability in the industry, creating shared value across the business, quality programming for our customers and Enriching Lives,” he said.

MultiChoice has called on aspiring young film & TV creatives to apply for the MultiChoice Talent Factory, MTF, Academy from Wednesday, 30 May 2018, on www.multichoicetalentfactory. com.

According to the organisers of the academy, submission of applications would close on July 5, 2018. Four students would be selected from Ghana to joined 16 others students from Nigeria to be taken through the programme.

MultiChoice operates –would 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.

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.