Another exciting MTF year begins! The latest cohort of students has begun work at the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Southern Africa. As the new academic year begins, MTF is training aspirant filmmakers in filmmaking and production skills to prepare them to work in the industry after graduation. Joining the academy from Botswana for the 2025 cohort are Theo Ditlhokwa and Elaine Radipodi respectively.
The Lusaka MTF Academy is one of three in Africa – the other two are in Lagos (West Africa) and Nairobi (East Africa).
Long recognised as a pipeline of creative excellence producing talented young graduates, this year’s MTF course will put 20 students through an MTF-funded nine-month course to develop their skills in fields such as storytelling, cinematography, production and editing.
This year’s course has a slightly redesigned curriculum. Students will complete a nine-month course, consisting of six months of online learning followed by three months of physical, in-person training. The MTF Academy training remains accredited with the University of Zambia.
“We’re pleased to welcome the 2025/2026 cohorts,” says MTF Southern Africa Academy Director Christopher Puta. “We have had to make some adjustments to our programme, but in doing that, we have found greater efficiencies while continuing to offer the best training platform in our industry. MultiChoice remains committed to the development of African film and television talent across the continent.”
Puta says the MTF Academy continues to provide the training that empowers young African creators to tell African stories, so that African audiences can see themselves in the hyperlocal content they love.
“The primary goal of MTF is to grow the African film and television industry,” he says. “In the years since our establishment in 2018, we have produced hundreds of qualified filmmakers, with many alumni going on to careers at MultiChoice or as successful entrepreneurs in various parts of our industry.”
MTF students are chosen after a gruelling, multi-stage application process. During their training, they will receive hands-on instruction from leading industry professionals and ultimately collaborate to create a student film that will be shown on MultiChoice channels such as Zambezi Magic.
“MTF students can look forward to an exciting learning experience that will equip them to meet the needs of the industry, and to create work that will inspire African audiences for decades to come,” said Puta. “Having already seen what this year’s intake is capable of, we are confident the future of our industry is in safe hands.”
This is the eighth cohort of students to enter the MTF Africa programme, in what has become the recognised source of new filmmaking talent on the continent.
ENDS
