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Another cohort of 20 young film and television professionals has graduated from the West Africa MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy in Lagos – the region;s premier film-training institution.

How does a great African film go from a spark of an idea to a fully realised production on Mzansi Magic? For most young filmmakers, the journey is long, expensive, and often out of reach. But for alumni of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), the Extended Cut programme is changing that story by transforming promising concepts into broadcast-ready films through a clear, empowering, and fiercely practical production pipeline.

Film can uniquely express the hopes and aspirations of the continent's people. Mentorship helps young creators express their vision – and touch as many lives as possible, writes MTF East Africa academy director Victoria Goro.

Perhaps the greatest empowerment tools for overcoming inequality and freeing the world's marginalised people from poverty are literacy and knowledge. Knowledge improves lives.

In the film industry, talent has never been in short supply – opportunity has. For many emerging filmmakers, the difference between a dream deferred and a story realised often comes down to one thing: access. Access to the right tools, facilities, and support systems that allow ideas to become screen-ready productions.

For most young filmmakers, breaking into the film and television industry is a long game with equal parts hustle, learning curve, and blind faith. But every so often, someone finds a way to turn ambition into momentum. Fezile Goba, a Johannesburg-based filmmaker, is one of them.

We all have great stories to tell. By starting your own film and TV production company, you can tell those stories in your own way – and earn a living from it too. Here are a few tips on how to go about it…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the global film industry, presenting both opportunities and challenges.

After five years in operation, the Southern Africa MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy in Lusaka this year saw its 100th student graduate from the industry-leading film and TV training programme.

Production management is rarely in the spotlight, but for Kamogelo van Wyk, it is the heartbeat of every successful production. As the production manager behind Lekompo 2, she knows that delivering high-quality content is about more than creative vision – it's about balancing budgets, negotiating with crews, and making every cent count without compromising on production value.

As the continent marks Africa Month in May, focus falls on the African narrative, and the need to tell our story from our own perspective. That story must be the product of African culture. But how does culture evolve?

As South Africa marks Global Entrepreneurship Week, the engines of enterprise are turning in some of its least-expected but most vital terrains, the creative industries. With the country's youth unemployment hovering near 46% and total real formal job creation stalling, entrepreneurship is increasingly less an option and more a necessity.

The oldest members of the Generation Z cohort are now 28 years old – educated, employed, earning income and well into their adult lives and their work careers.

The cybersecurity war between legitimate content providers and the criminal gangs running illegal pirate streaming services is heating up. Technology now allows for pirate syndicates and users to be tracked, blocked and prosecuted. But the real war is to ensure that African storytellers have a voice.

Africa's greatest global competitive advantage may lie in the artistic abilities of its people. To turn this untapped resource into real human benefits and economic growth, the continent must develop its talented young people. In doing so, the continent will find its authentic voice.

The world is warming faster than at any time in recorded history. This rapid climate change is already releasing a wave of extreme weather – wildfires, hurricanes, floods and droughts.

Africa's creative sector is blessed with great talent and an innovative spirit, as well as a deep, continent-wide storytelling transition. However, for African young people hoping to translate those advantages into a career into film and TV, there are particular approaches that can help them find success.

African film audiences can look forward to a rapid transformation of their favourite medium over the next year, as moviemaking evolves into a digitally enabled and socially engaged art form, while remaining as entertaining as ever.

MultiChoice Talent Factory West Africa Director Atinuke Ngozi Babatunde is committed to upskilling the TV and film industry – to tell Africa's stories to its people, and the world at large.

Two riveting new films by recent graduates from the MultiChoice Talent Factory West Africa Academy – are poised to premiere on Africa Magic channels.

The East Africa MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy in Nairobi this year graduated another cohort of talented film and TV professionals from the industry-leading training institution. 

The world is warming faster than at any time in recorded history. This rapid climate change is already releasing a wave of extreme weather – wildfires, hurricanes, floods and droughts.

NAIROBI, Kenya, February – The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) East Africa Academy has celebrated another milestone with two feature filmsby the graduating class of 2024 premiering on Maisha Magic channels.

The latest seasons of Reacher and Marvel's what if...? Are the shows you're most looking forward to in December. See what else made the list.

Oluwatoyosi Fowode, a top-tier graduate at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) programme, was awarded a two-week internship at the MTF graduation. In this blog post, she shares her experience and insights post interning for some of the productions in South Africa.

Showmax are continuing to make the news and this time it's for Twende, the first Original 2D animated series from the streaming channel. Premiering this coming Friday, 1 December 2023, with five episodes available to binge, Twende's pilot screened in competition in 2021 at Annecy, the world's premier animation festival.

December is rolling in and bringing sun, fun and a whole host of new shows to enjoy. Catch Showmax Originals like teen murder mystery Trompoppie, adorable animation Twende, and the reunion of the incredible ladies of The Mommy Club. Plus, another diva is back on screen: get ready for S2 of Kwa Mam'Mkhize. Catch it and more.

MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), in partnership with Lights, Camera, Diaspora!, is proud to announce the completion of an exciting roadshow that spanned three regions: Southern Africa, East Africa and Nigeria.

In the dynamic world of African cinema, Southern Africa has emerged as a thriving hub for creativity and talent.

Dynamic programme graduates launch their own company and enter TV and film production space.

A new group of talented TV and film professionals has entered the local entertainment industry, as the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) class of 2023 graduated from the Southern Africa MTF Academy in Lusaka, Zambia.

Tsotso, one of the distinguished recipients of the Grand Prize in the MTF Class of 2022, graciously recounts his internship journey in South Africa. As part of the graduation accolades, Tsotso was granted a 2-week internship opportunity in the country. In this blog entry, he generously shares his experiences and invaluable insights he gained whilst he interned across various South African productions.

Hanigun Kwenya is a Film director residing in Nairobi, Kenya. He attended the MultiChoice Talent Factory in 2020. Hanigun has several film credits to his name and is currently a director on the acclaimed Kenyan TV series Salem.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is significantly growing its impact in the African continent through the pool of well-trained filmmakers, that have established production companies, producing ground-breaking films and internationally competitive production projects.

"I'm talking as if he's my husband," Faith says in the opening minutes of this week's episode of The Real Housewives of Lagos. She was referring to her son after discussing the bond they share. If you've been following, you know they have the biblical mother-son relationship.

If you were one of the many too busy drooling over GWM's Ora EV yesterday, you might've missed the news that Showmax is  officially relaunchin in February 2024 and it's bringing with it a "brand-new look, new app and entirely new product suite."

The South African film industry has seen significant growth in recent years, with filmmakers and actors producing high-quality content that has garnered significant international recognition. Despite this recognition and growth, however, the industry still struggles with a lack of funding and investment being one of the key reasons.

Bubele Monakali from Pietermaritzburg is shadowing the Multichoice Talent Factory South Africa (MTFza) on the set of Areyeng Jozi!

The South African film industry has seen significant growth in recent years, with filmmakers and actors producing high-quality content that has garnered significant international recognition. Despite this recognition and growth, however, the industry still struggles with a lack of funding and investment being one of the key reasons.

Lushinjilo Victor Kasanga from Zambia is an MTF graduate who embarked on a unique journey with MTF's Southern Africa Academy where he finished top of his class.

On set one-on-one conversation with Areyeng Jozi co-director, head writer, and current MTFza intern, Maps Moketi

Bongo Jwaqa calls the small, quaint town of King Williams Town, on the outskirts of the Eastern Cape, his home. Coming from a humble and hardworking background, he is a proud resident of the area.

The current cohort of interns of the MultiChoice Talent Factory South Africa (MTFza) have been revelling in their internship experiences this year and have been producing some exciting content.

Meet Bongo Jwaqa, a young and ambitious filmmaker from King Williams Town, who is taking the world of storytelling by storm! Bongo's journey started with a small video camera in the hands of his father and has now taken him to the brink of joining the MultiChoice Talent Factory, where he is keen to realise his dream of becoming a famous director.

Having one of the oldest and most established film industries in Africa, South Africa's film and television industry is still bustling with great opportunities to become a commercially viable creative hub.