Academy unveils 20 students for MultiChoice Talent Factory 2018

Having gone through thousands of entries from across Africa, the Academy has unveiled 20 students, who will participate in the maiden edition of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF). The successful candidates were chosen after a two-month long process of shortlisting candidates, with over 3000 entries coming from Nigeria and Ghana alone.

Those selected include Idongesit Amba, Allen Onyige, Gilbert Bassey, Precious Iroagalachi, Nanret Paul Kumbet, Akpera Mnena, Umm’salma Saliu, Ugwu Eileen and Sonia Nwosu.
Others are Moses Akerele, Metong Minwon, Bolaji Adelakun, Joseph Adeniyi, Kemi Adeyemi, Tochukwu Nwaiwu, Blessing Bulus, Edmund Asamoah, Henry Konadu Denkyira, Irene Yaamoakoa, and Patience Adisenu.

The MTF regional Academy Director, Femi Odugbemi, led the interview and adjudication process alongside other industry experts for the selection, which was based on their industry-related qualifications and skills, as well as their passion to narrate Africa’s unique stories.

“As a company that is deeply rooted in Nigeria, we understand that many young, aspiring filmmakers have the capacity to learn and strengthen their skill set to give back to their communities but may not be financially equipped to do so,” said John Ugbe, Managing Director of the company.

“The MultiChoice Talent Factory focuses on making sure that those gems are nurtured, and their talents developed to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s creative industry,” he said.
During the programme, MTF Academy students will produce television and film content that will be aired on local M-Net channels across the MultiChoice platform.

Meanwhile, the MTF initiative has been described as an indication of the company’s commitment to growing and developing African creative industries. This was said during a press brunch hosted by MultiChoice on the eve of the 6th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), which engaged with pan-African media and stakeholders about their role in creating shared value for the industry.
 
The session was led by a panel, which included members of the MultiChoice leadership including Yolisa Phahle, Video Entertainment CEO, MultiChoice General Entertainment; John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria and Nkateko Mabaso, Acting CEO, M-Net SSA.
 
Phahle said the MTF is MultiChoice’s way of contributing to the countries in which the company operates as well as a way of magnifying the opportunities for African storytelling, adding that the world is ready to embrace African storytelling in an unprecedented way.
 
On her part, Cheryl Uys-Allie, Director, MultiChoice Talent Factory, explained that the initiative is about developing the skills of local filmmakers and the growth of the local film industries. She explained that the initiative was launched in May 2018 in Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya, the three countries that will host the MultiChoice Academies. Each academy will provide 20 students with a full-year academic programme in various aspects of filmmaking. Berry Lwando, Academy Director, Southern Africa, explained that the selection was done in conjunction with experts in local film industries.