MultiChoice announces a major Pan-African Initiative for Film & Television industry
TodayMultiChoice Africa, the continent’s leading video entertainment
services provider, announced a bold new Pan-African social investment
initiative the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) aimed at igniting and growing Africa’s creative industries into vibrant, economic centres.
“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,” says Cecil Sunkwa
Mills, General Manager, MultiChoice Ghana. “We are abundantly blessed in
these areas, however, the space given for this expression has at best
been limited and at worst, been relegated to the fringes of the
mainstream economy, leaving in its wake, unfulfilled dreams, unexplored
talent and unwritten stories. As an African business, MultiChoice,
together with our valued partners and stakeholders across the continent,
have collaborated to make a positive socio-economic impact in the
communities in which we live and work through the MultiChoice Talent
Factory initiative.”
For over two decades, MultiChoice has been committed toinvesting in
the development of original African programming and showcasing it onthe
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 valueby
using itscore business resources, people, skills and networks to affect
a positive change in society that yields benefits for the business and
society.
The MTF initiative will deliver three touchpoints
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 Academystudents will be provided with skillsetsto develop
their talent, connect with industry professionals and tell authentic
African stories through a comprehensive curriculum comprising
theoreticalknowledge and hands-on experiencein cinematography, editing,
audio production and storytelling. The programme will take place atthree
regional MTF Academies based in Kenya for East Africa, Nigeria for
Western 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.
“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 has scholarship and technology
at its foundation,” says Odugbemi, MTF Academy Director for West Africa.
He adds: “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.”
During the course of 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
the Academy with theknowledge and skills to contribute professionally to
thefilm and television industry.
CALL FOR ENTRY OPENS TODAY:
MultiChoice is calling all aspiring young film & TV creatives to apply for the MTFAcademy from today, 30 May 2018, on www.multichoicetalentfactory.com. The Call for Entry will close on 05 July 2018.The
60 post-school MTF students (20 for each region) – will be selected
from *13 African countries where MultiChoice operates -will 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.
Join the MTF social media conversation on the hashtag #multichoicetalentfactoryand follow/join:
- Instagram: @multichoicetalentfactory;
- Twitter:@MCTalentFactory
- Facebook:@multichoiceafricatalentfactory
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