Staff Writer
Zimbabwean graduates of the MultiChoice Talent Factory are making inroads into Africa’s film and television industry and are planning to have a meaningful influence on the course of the industry’s future.
The MTF initiative was created several years ago and has seen MultiChoice Africa establish three academies to provide training and skills enhancement for aspiring filmmakers from across the continent. One academy, based in Lusaka, serves southern Africa, while two others serve east Africa (Nairobi) and west Africa (Lagos). For each of these, 20 students are selected to study each year on an annual course of wide-ranging content, thus providing an input of 60 trained and work-ready graduates for the industry.
Zimbabwe has had eight students graduate to date and two are currently in school in the southern African academy and these graduates are helping create the industry of the future.
One of the 2023 graduates was Simbarashe Nyahwa, who feels his MTF participation was among the most rewarding and exciting periods of his life.
“During my time at the MTF we were given a chance to go on what they call an immersion with Zambezi Magic production, which gave us a chance to see what happens behind the scenes of the film productions we see on television and where we could enjoy hands-on experience,” he said.
“At our master classes we had meaningful learning experiences from industry experts, and it was in these that I had a chance to learn more about producing and audio post-production, which became my areas of key interest.”
Towards the end of the year’s class he and fellow students were tasked with working on two feature films as final projects, where he was a line producer for one of the films.
“This was undoubtedly one of the major highlights because it was my debut film as a line producer and being put in this role taught me many lessons about teamwork and leadership,” he said.
Simbarashe said that being on the MTF course made a huge difference for him since he had previously not known much about film production, because he had never had a chance to be in a place with adequate resources to learn about the practical aspects of film production.
“But at the Academy we all had that and we were exposed to the industry experts who could teach us how to make films and also how to be creative with what resources we had.”
Takeaways from the course also included learning the benefits of team work and collaboration.
He said: “The MTF students came from different countries and cultures, so we had to learn more about each other and about each other’s cultures and lifestyles, finding ways to support each other’s weaknesses with our own strengths. We lived, learned and worked together for a long time and having this experience of working together taught me a lot about teamwork.”
Creativity and problem solving also became features of Simbarashe’s experience.
“I learned that good filmmakers are people who get to work with whatever resources they have at their disposal to tell stories and it doesn’t matter if these resources are limited or not. I also learned that if there are problems, whether unexpected or expected, we simply had to work out how to find solutions to these problems and get the job done,” he said.
Since graduating, Simbarashe has started making an impact on Zimbabwe’s film industry.
“I’ve been a judge in the Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust’s Smartphone Short Film Competition, providing what I hope are valuable insights to participants on improving their craft. In addition, I was selected for the One World Media Fellowship to collaborate soon on a short documentary film project with fellow young filmmakers in Zimbabwe,” he said.
He is also involved with the Future of Film Africa programme, working with a team of young Zimbabwean filmmakers to develop a story for an industry showcase.
“I’m also a proud member of the Canon Collins Scholars Network, which is funding my Master’s studies in film and television studies at the University of Cape Town,” he said.
“My research project focuses on the development of transmedia and immersive storytelling in Africa, with a specific emphasis on its potential benefits for African filmmakers and the future of Showmax. Through these initiatives, I’m contributing my own knowledge and skills development, which in turn could help uplift the Zimbabwean film industry and create opportunities for other young filmmakers, as well as push the boundaries of innovative storytelling.”
The future holds big excitement for Simbarashe, who would one day like to establish film and television production company with a strong focus on creating opportunities for young people to break into the industry.
“My goal is to provide a platform for emerging talent to gain practical experience, build their skills, and access employment opportunities in film and television production,” he said.
“In the longer term I plan to specialise in transmedia production, especially in the expansion of African film projects into highly successful multi-platform communications and international campaigns and build story worlds for films, TV shows, video games, toys, books, comics, apps and virtual reality projects.”
Simbarashe is excited about the possibility of this venture happening and succeeding and is open to support, guidance or collaboration that can help him achieve his goals.
“Whether it’s through partnerships, funding, mentorship or networking opportunities, I believe that together we can all make a meaningful impact on the industry and create a brighter future for young people in film and TV,” he said.
“I’ll collaborate with filmmakers, create immersive experiences and showcase African talent globally where and when I can. By doing so, we can increase visibility, build audiences and promote cultural exchange, ultimately supporting the growth of the African film industry by bringing African stories to the whole world.”
Simbarashe believes the world of film and television is changing rapidly because of new technology, so it is important for Africa to embrace transmedia storytelling.
This is because it offers a unique opportunity to amplify African stories, cultures and perspectives to a global audience,” he said.
“With the African media landscape rapidly evolving, transmedia storytelling can help creators and distributors stay ahead of the curve, reach a wider audience and build a loyal fan base. By embracing transmedia storytelling, Africa can do many successful and impactful things: take control of its own narrative, showcase its diversity and creativity, build a new generation of storytellers, drive social and cultural impact, and contribute to the global media landscape in a meaningful way, ultimately leading to economic benefits and new revenue streams for African creators and industries.”
For Simbarashe the future is simply put: focus, plan and do it!
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