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With Talent Factory, MultiChoice ignites Africa’s creative sector

By Chuks Nwanne
02 June 2018   |   4:21 am
In a bid to ignite and grow Africa’s creative industries into vibrant, economic centres, MultiChoice Africa, the continent’s leading video entertainment services provider, has announced a new Pan-African social...

In a bid to ignite and grow Africa’s creative industries into vibrant, economic centres, MultiChoice Africa, the continent’s leading video entertainment services provider, has announced a new Pan-African social investment initiative tagged MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF).

The MTF initiative, which was unveiled in Lagos earlier this week, will deliver three touch points 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 Nigeria for West Africa, Kenya for East Africa and Zambia for Southern African countries and will be overseen by acclaimed local film & TV industry experts. In West Africa, Mr. Femi Odugbemi, has been appointed as the Academy Director for the hub.

“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,” said John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria.

According to Odugbemi, “Professional training is key to success in any occupation. We need interventions like the MTF so that emerging filmmakers are better equipped in the creative processes that have scholarship and technology at their foundation. We must consciously build capacity so that our next-generation filmmakers and producers can also create wealth and create employment by being entrepreneurs as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, entry has opened for all aspiring young film & TV creatives to apply for the MTF Academy on www.multichoicetalentfactory. com. The Call for Entry will close on 05 July 2018, after which 60 post-school MTF students (20 for each region), will be selected from 13 African countries where MultiChoice operates.

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