Martin Endjala
MultiChoice Namibia has announced 60 students, including six Namibian aspiring Filmmakers will be funded for the Class of 2023.
This is through its 12-month fully funded education programme. The Academy received thousands of applications across 13 countries in Africa, and said that a rigorous selection process ensued in which 60 aspiring filmmakers have been selected to be part of the MTF’s 12-month training programme including both theory and hands-on experience in filmmaking from scriptwriting to cinematography, editing and audio post-production.
MultiChoice Namibia Managing Director, Roger Gertze, says their commitment is not only to tell authentic African stories as Africa’s most loved storytellers but to also invest in them.
Adding this is why some of their alumni are already working on M-Net and Showmax productions. Gertze adds that it is helping them to realise the vision of taking African stories to the world by producing relevant content within the Southern African region.
“We are extremely excited about the Class of 2023, and we wish them the best of luck as they start their new journey. Filmmaking is such a wonderful art and because it is ever-evolving, this year our students will be encouraged to explore and exploit various emerging technology industries are revolutionising the
Industry,” Gertze emphasises.
Furthermore, the students are being encouraged to be bold and remain curious in their pursuit of telling
African stories, maintained the MultiChoice Talent Factory Director for Africa, Nwabisa Matyumza.
MTF is also said to have shown continuous success since its inception, honing the skills of over 120 emerging filmmakers in 13 countries across the continent, who are now part of the growing MTF alumni network, taking African stories to the world.
The MTF Alumni class of 2022, within three months of graduating saw 60% of its graduates already economically active in the TV industry. This is a true testament to the power of training and development provided by the MTF programme, Matyumza says.
Additionally, after an in-depth interview and adjudication process by regional Academy directors and
industry representatives, the MTF Director for Africa, informed that the final candidates that were selected include 50% males and 50% females from the Southern Region, 40% males and 60% females from the Western Region, and a total of 55% males and 45% females will represent the Eastern Region.
Highlighting that MTF academies continue to work with their regional and international partners to ensure that the students receive the best standard of training and practical experience needed to hone their skills and contribute positively to the film and TV industry.
MTF also works with other renowned local and international facilitators, such as Benea Shapaya, senior
lecturer of Film and Media Studies at Kenyatta University, who will be facilitating a session on the
history of the film and television industry in Africa, and four times SAFTA award-winning writer, producer, and director – Neil McCarthy, currently one of the most highly experienced screenwriters in the country.
Meanwhile, the programme is also boasted by a high calibre of award-winning specialists from across the continent, many of whom produce content for M-Net group channels. The top graduates from each of the three academies will be presented with the opportunity to further develop their skills with various internships sponsored by MTF partner organisations such as the New
York Film Academy (NYFA) and Zee World. Where additional hands-on experience will take place to further prepare them for various sectors in the
TV and film industry. Fimanekweni Paulus, Tekla Nakale, and Romeo Urikeraka are the three aspiring
filmmakers who will represent Namibia in Lusaka, Zambia.
