Staff Writer
Aspiring filmmakers across Africa are being invited to apply for a place in the 2025 MultiChoice Talent Factory programme, an initiative that will result in 60 newcomers being made ready to enter the continent’s growing film and television industry.
Charity Njanji, head of corporate affairs and public relations of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the MultiChoice Talent Factory had become one of the most successful training initiatives on the continent and had made an impact on the industry through providing a large number of work-ready graduates whose own impact is already being felt.
“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.
The MTF programme was launched six years ago and 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 curriculum that covers all relevant areas of focus in theoretical and practical sessions.
Ms Njanji said the programme was of broad appeal.
“Whether you’re 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, the MTF looks for applicants from all backgrounds across a specific set of 13 countries, including Zimbabwe.
This exciting programme helps these aspirants realise their potential and helps build up a strong base of talent and skills across the whole continent,” she said.
Through a series of rigorous training sessions, the MTF team believes in using a hands-on approach and mentorship from industry experts. Participants not only have a chance to learn their craft but also gain invaluable insights into the business of filmmaking.
They are able to 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 and 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.
Ms Njanji said these factors were indicative of the MTF commitment to supporting MultiChoice’s content selection of delivering exciting local content.
“We know that Africa has many untold stories and by investing in the talent of 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, MTF alumni have achieved phenomenal success in their productions.”
She said five alumni last year secured nominations across three categories at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, while many graduates now occupied significant
industry roles across the continent, working as directors, producers, sound designers, camera operators, art directors, scriptwriters and editors on major African productions.
Habtamu Mekonen, an MTF student from the East African academy recently won an Emmy Award for a short film that he produced and directed.
“Perhaps the success of MTF is best illustrated by the feature films produced by its students,” said Njanji.
“The films highlight the talents and creativity of participants and demonstrate the programme’s profound impact.”
The MTF also aims at fostering an entrepreneurial spirit to help give young people the confidence to start their own projects and businesses.
To date, 30 graduates have registered production houses, creating employment opportunities and contributing to the economy. The knowledge and skills imparted by MTF empowers graduates to themselves be catalysts for economic growth and cultural enrichment in their communities.
Application for the Class of 2025 is now open and the process will close on September 15. Interested candidates can visit
https://applications.multichoicetalentfactory.com to submit their entries and learn more about the programme’s requirements.
“We encourage all serious Zimbabwean aspirants to apply and stand a chance of being part of this incredible experience,” said Ms Njanji.
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