MultiChoice Talent Factory Celebrates Fifth Graduating Class

Iyke Bede

Continuing its legacy of nurturing emerging African filmmakers in West Africa, the MultiChoice Talent Factory celebrated the graduation of its fifth cohort of 20 aspiring filmmakers on Friday, December 6, at its Ilupeju office in Lagos.

Each year, the MTF programme trains filmmakers across its various academies through a comprehensive, fully funded cinematography course. The programme equips participants with the technical and creative skills necessary to craft compelling stories that highlight Africa’s cultural wealth to worldwide audiences.

Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, Dr Busola Tejumola, stated that the graduation ceremony is a time to celebrate creativity, dedication, and the exceptional achievements of the graduates, highlighting the important role they have to play in nation-building.

“These milestones demonstrate that the MTF is not only about training; it is on a mission to create leaders and changemakers in Africa’s creative industry. Storytelling is a foundation for African heritage. Through it, we preserve our culture, challenge stereotypes, and reshape global perceptions. Films like these are prime examples of how African narratives can tackle universal themes while retaining our local authenticity, resonating with audiences globally,” she said.

Journeying the audience through the academy’s history and current works with the graduands, Tejumola noted that in just one year, the students have made great strides, including the selection of ‘Non Cras,’ a film by Elma Baisie, at the Lift-Off Global Network, and ‘Get Out of Your Head,’ a collaborative venture by Oluwayanmife Arogundade and Winner Achimugu, at Afropolis Lagos 2024.

Reiterating sentiments shared by Tejumola, Director-General, NFVCB, Dr Shaibu Husseini, said:

“As maiden filmmakers, you have a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry. The kind of filmmakers that we are expecting are the kinds that will make an impact, not just those that have numbers on social media, but those that will impact society on the development of Africa. So I charge you to be bold and take creative risks.”

During the event, the three best graduating students won one-year scholarships to international film schools. Winner Achimugu and Anjoluwa Aluko won scholarships to the New York Film Academy and Zee World, India, respectively, while Adejo Edebo Emmanuel won a scholarship to learn at MNET Production in South Africa.

This year, MTF West Africa collaborated with the Earthshot Prize initiative, producing projects focused on environmental sustainability. Among these are “Revive the Ocean,” which explores innovative solutions for ocean preservation; “Racing Against Time,” a mini-documentary addressing the dangers of plastic waste; and “2070,” a thought-provoking short film envisioning future environmental challenges.