ORGANISERS of the annual MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) programme have opened the call for aspiring filmmakers across Africa for the 2025 cohort ahead of the September 15 deadline.
The MTF 2025 programme will see 60 aspiring filmmakers being selected to enter the continent’s growing film and television industry.
Launched six years ago, the MTF programme hosts 20 students each at academies in Lusaka for southern Africa, Nairobi for east Africa and Lagos for west Africa.
The participants are exposed for a year to a wide-ranging television and filmmaking curriculum that covers all relevant areas of focus in theoretical and practical sessions.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe head of corporate affairs and public relations Charity Njanji said MTF had become one of the most successful training initiatives on the continent.
She said the programme had made an impact on the film industry through providing a large number of work-ready graduates whose impact is already being felt.
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“Whether you are a young professional looking to change careers and expand your horizons or a newcomer eager to make your mark in the television and film industry, MTF looks for applicants from all backgrounds across a specific set of 13 countries, including Zimbabwe,” she said.
“We encourage all serious Zimbabwean aspirants to apply and stand a chance of being part of this incredible experience Interested candidates can visit https://applications.multichoicetalentfactory.com to submit their entries and learn more about the programme’s requirements.”
Njanji said the MTF programme had broad appeal and it helped aspirants to realise their potential and build a strong base of talent and skills across the continent.
“Through a series of rigorous training sessions, the MTF team believe in using a hands-on approach and mentorship from industry experts. Participants do not only have a chance to learn their craft, but also gain invaluable insights into the business of filmmaking,” she said.
“We are pleased that in each of the annual MTF academic years we have had two Zimbabwean students among the trainees and we look forward to a continued strong showing from aspiring filmmakers from this country in this valuable programme.”
She said participants could learn from some of the industry’s best minds and gain practical experience in areas such as cinematography, sound design, editing and other fields.
After graduating, top-performing students from each of the three academy bases access further training, mentorship and internship opportunities with MTF global partners such as the New York Film Academy and India’s Zee World. They are also afforded the opportunity to work on productions in South Africa.
“After graduating, students receive an accredited and recognised qualification and gain a chance to produce and direct short films showcased on MultiChoice platforms. This is indicative of MTF commitment to supporting MultiChoice’s content selection of delivering exciting local content,” she said.
“We know that Africa has many untold stories and by investing in the talent on the continent, MultiChoice gets to uncover and showcase these stories by supporting MTFs students, giving them necessary skills and the platform to produce content that resonates not only with other Africans, but on the global market.”
Through this support, Njanji said MTF alumni had achieved phenomenal success in their productions.
She noted that five alumni last year secured nominations across three categories at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, while many graduates occupied significant industry roles across the continent. Some are working as directors, producers, sound designers, camera operators, art directors, scriptwriters and editors on major African productions.