It’s a wrap!

It’s a wrap! Congratulations to the MTF Academy Class of 2020 Celebrating the conclusion of a successful second year of the MultiChoice Talent Factory. STAFF REPORTER







WINDHOEK

Despite the challenging year that was 2020, MultiChoice is thrilled to congratulate the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy Class of 2020 on their graduation!

Last year was undoubtedly tough due to Covid-19, but the ability for all the 60 students from the Lusaka, Nairobi and Lagos academy hubs to quickly adapt and transition from physical to virtual learning speaks to the world-class nature of the academy’s course, said Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment and connected services at the MultiChoice Group.

The students’ academic course was extended from 12 to 18 months due to the pandemic. This additional time translated to the students this week walking away with not one but two qualifications, making them even more sought-after as they re-enter their respective local film and TV sectors as highly qualified industry professionals.

Alongside their MTF qualification, the students also walk away with an equally illustrious qualification from the prestigious New York Film Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (NYFA).

Investing in Africa

Africa’s creative industries are custodians of the continent’s cultural heritage, and as Africa’s most-loved storyteller, MultiChoice has always put to use its burning desire to develop and invest in African talent through initiatives such as MTF. And like the previous cohort, the skills gained by the class of 2020 once again shone through during their course.

The students completed an intensive three-week online NYFA course on the production of micro-documentaries and music videos, and also worked with the United Nations on the global #PledgeToPause campaign, exposing the young creatives to global networks. In addition, MTF graduates are now part of the MTF alumni network and connected to industry professionals from across the continent through the MTF Portal.

The continued success of the MTF initiative since its start in 2018 is also rooted in its illustrious partnerships, namely with NYFA, the Henley Business School Africa, the Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria, the Kenyatta University in Kenya and the University of Zambia. MTF also has partnerships with internationally acclaimed organisations Dolby, Jasco Broadcast Solutions and Nihilent.

MTF’s partners have further contributed to the initiative by offering awards to this year’s graduates. An eight-week NYFA scholarship goes to the top performing graduate per region. This year’s recipients are: Abisola Aboaba (Nigeria), Daisy Masembe (Uganda) and Maira Tauacale (Mozambique).

Meanwhile, Julie Ako (Nigeria), Kefa Igilo (Tanzania) and Hilma Sheehama (Namibia) earned themselves an eight-week scriptwriting internship on an animation series from global consulting and solutions integration company Nihilent Technologies.