The journey for another cohort of aspiring filmmakers has officially begun at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) East Africa Academy, marking the start of a new academic year dedicated to nurturing the continent’s next generation of creative professionals.
This milestone event, held at the Nairobi-based academy, reaffirms MTF’s commitment to growing the African film and television industry by equipping talented youth with the essential skills to tell authentic, hyperlocal stories.
The MTF East Africa Academy is one of three such institutions established by MultiChoice across the continent, with others located in Lagos and Lusaka.
For eight years, these academies have served as a vital pipeline of creative excellence, producing hundreds of qualified filmmakers who have gone on to build successful careers within the industry.
MTF Filmmakers Curriculum
This year’s cohort of 20 students will embark on an intensive nine-month program. The curriculum has been thoughtfully redesigned to enhance efficiency and deliver a leading-edge training platform, now consisting of a six-month online learning phase followed by three months of hands-on, in-person training.
The program remains fully accredited by Kenyatta University, ensuring the academic rigour of the education provided.
Victoria Goro, the MTF East Africa Academy Director, warmly welcomed the new students, emphasising their role in a growing family of alumni who have become highly respected professionals.
“The primary goal of MTF is to grow the African film and television industry,” Goro said.
“In the years since our establishment in 2018, we have produced hundreds of qualified filmmakers, with many alumni going on to careers at MultiChoice or as successful entrepreneurs in various parts of our industry,” she added.
Goro highlighted the academy’s focus on empowering young African creators to tell their own stories, enabling African audiences to see themselves reflected in the content they love.
The students, selected after a gruelling, multi-stage application process, will receive practical instruction from industry leaders in key fields such as storytelling, cinematography, sound design, and editing.
Their training will culminate in the collaborative production of a student film, which will be showcased on popular MultiChoice channels like Maisha Magic East, Pearl Magic, and Pearl Magic Prime.
How MTF is Impacting Ugandan Creators
The impact of the MTF program is deeply felt in Uganda. Rinaldi Jamugisa, the PR and Communications Manager at MultiChoice Uganda, extended a special welcome to the four Ugandan students joining this year’s cohort. He expressed strong confidence that the program will continue to nurture future contributors to Uganda’s vibrant film industry.
“For 8 years, MTF has been a gift that has continued to give the Ugandan film industry, with many of the graduates from the different cohorts currently contributing to the revival of local content as a staple of Uganda’s television consumption,” said Jamugisa. “We are excited to welcome the 2025 cohort and look forward to seeing the talented individuals who will emerge from this program to continue to shape the future of our film industry,” he added.
As the eighth cohort enters this prestigious program, MultiChoice Talent Factory solidifies its reputation as the definitive source of new filmmaking talent on the continent.
With a focus on practical skills, industry collaboration, and authentic storytelling, MTF is not just training filmmakers; it is building the very foundation of Africa’s creative economy, ensuring a bright and thriving future for the entire industry.