Isolation Diaries

MTF West Africa Class of 2020 Short Films

The rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the continent has required us to put in place some precautionary measures to ensure that we minimise the risk of significant impact to our people, business and the services we provide to our customers. In line with protocols outlined by various governments and health officials regarding the closure of academic institutions during this time, MultiChoice Africa made a decision to temporarily close the MultiChoice Talent Factory academies in Lagos, Nairobi and Lusaka with immediate effect, until further notice.

Our Class of 2020 students went home and were soon faced with the grim realities of COVID-19 and the newness of online learning. As part of their curriculum, the MTF West Africa Academy challenged students to document and share their personal stories about the impact of COVID-19. Each student shot and edited a 3 minutes silent mobile film made with zero budget. The result is ‘Isolation Diaries’ – 20 short films that portray the student’s fears, hopes and the realities of living in COVID times.

  • Film: Ibeji
    Synopsis:

    Stuck inside during the COVID-19 lockdown, a film editor struggling to meetup with a deadline must battle her own demons.


    Student: Gloria Akor
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Ibeji%20by%20Gloria%20Akor.mp4
  • Film: Virtual Connection
    Synopsis:

    Set in the era of a global pandemic, “virtual connection” tells the story of how, Efe, a young lady in her mid 20 twenties, escapes her boring, gloomy, and colorless reality - during an ongoing lockdown - via a virtual connection.


    Student: Tsotso Joshua
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Virtual%20Connection%20by%20Tsotso%20Joshua.mp4
  • Film: The Award
    Synopsis:

    A lonely yet ambitious young lady risk missing the deadline for a stiff competition if she doesn’t conquer her fears.

    Toke, 22 aims to win the much coveted prize as the celebrated writer of the year but finds it hard to concentrate because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As more and more news of the pandemic stares her in the face, Toke must find hope, overcome her fears and find courage to put in for the competition.


    Student: Oluwaseyi Olaiya
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/The%20Award%20by%20Oluwaseyi%20Olaiya.mp4
  • Film: Uphill
    Synopsis:

    Lola, a recovering alcoholic whose desire is to completely get over her heavy drinking habit, finds herself slipping back to her habits as anxiety mounts with the events of the Covid 19 Pandemic. When she loses her job, she has to decide, yet again, where to draw comfort from.


    Student: Funmilayo Okonta
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Uphill-by-Funmilayo-Okonta.mp4
  • Film: Dela Senku's Paranoia
    Synopsis:

    Stuck in the world’s pandemic, Covid- 19, a young man tries to follow the safety precautionary measures set out to keep himself and the world safe from the further spread of the disease. However, his over protectiveness from the fear of the disease and the constant news about the disease possibly wiping out the human race, fuels his anxiety leading to a hysterical approach to dealing with his obsessive compulsiveness. Living in fear of the unknown, He struggles to stay calm in his home while trying to stay productive.


    Student: Dela Duvi
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Dela%20Senku%27s%20Paranoia%20by%20Dela%20Duvi.mp4
  • Film: Ever the Same
    Synopsis:

    This short film raises a question about what has been on our minds since covid19 began. It zeroes in on a lady named Tolu- You can call her the girl next door. Tolu is clean, tidy and fashion conscious and just like everyone else, her life was very simple- Wakeup, clean and go out. But how simple can one’s life be? The coronavirus pandemic was welcome with a lot of changes: amongst them, personal and environment changes. And so was Tolu’s life.

    Are things going to ever be the same for her?


    Student: Deborah Omikunle
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Ever%20the%20Same%20by%20Deborah%20Omikunle.mp4
  • Film: All Alone
    Synopsis:

    After losing his job, a young man must find a way to climb out of his pit of anger and depression. Stuck at home, living alone with his aged mother, voluntarily locking himself away, he must fight through his grief, unaware of the toll it takes on his loved ones.


    Student: Timayo Ogunro
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/All%20Alone%20by%20Timayo%20Ogunro.mp4
  • Film: 3 Feet
    Synopsis:

    Dipo, an arrogant young man finds himself in a helpless dilemma when his wife falls into labor while he is on self-isolation after being exposed to the novel corona virus. He must choose between risking exposing his wife and unborn baby to the virus and turning to his now distant friends and neighbors for help.


    Student: Esther Akapo
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/3%20Feet%20by%20Esther%20Akapo.mp4
  • Film: 2 Meters Closer
    Synopsis:

    After schools in the State were shutdown in response to the Corona Pandemic, two siblings go home to meet their eldest sister. She is forced to deal with the mess they make of the house as the younger ones learn to become more responsible.


    Student: Amarachi Nwaozuzu
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/2%20Meters%20Closer%20by%20Amarachi%20Nwaozuzu.mp4
  • Film: Stuck with you
    Synopsis:

    Binta who now works from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed lockdown has a deadline to submit a work in few hours. She struggles to concentrate and get this work done but can't seem to as Mina, her extraverted and careless roommate who she's in conflict with, distracts her with loud music. She is frustrated and tries to stop the charade but Mina won't have it. Binta is more aggravated as there's no end to Mina's nonchalance and lackadaisical behaviours - she finds that Mina's left the kitchen in a mess. Annoyed, she tosses away Mina's insulin pen where she'd left it. She'd later come to find Mina trembling - an episode of diabetic shock. She's scared, confused and is the only help Mina can get to regain consciousness. But does Binta let their differences get in the way of assisting this roommate that's been frustrating her?


    Student: Chinyere Ohuonu
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Stuck%20with%20you%20by%20Chinyere%20Ohuonu.mp4
  • Film: Isolated
    Synopsis:

    With the outbreak of the Corona virus pandemic and the need for humans to stay at home, two lovers, Jidenna and Uto, find their love hit with a big question mark. Unusual fights that shake the foundations of the relationship make them unsure of their ability to be together steam. He identifies the course of their fights and writes it down on his phone diary. Their turning point comes when Jidenna Jidenna understands that a man must apologise to his woman. Mummy, here it is.


    Student: Chike Igwebuike
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Isolated%20by%20Chike%20Igwebuike.mp4
  • Film: Full & Free
    Synopsis:

    Full and Free is a Rotoscoped Dramatic short film about restructure during a lockdown. When Dimeji a procrastinator and resilient male worker wakes up with a hungry stomach, his plan to get something to eat proves abortive when he discovers he has no food stock or cooking gas left at home. He is further prohibited from accessing food when he is unable to order for same via his phone due to bad network connectivity experienced as a result of the just commenced COVID 19 pandemic lockdown. Also, when he soon discovers he is unable to leave the house due to his missing house keys and fails to remember where he last left them. Stuck at home and dying of hunger, Dimeji will have to confront his challenges and work to save himself and find his freedom.


    Student: Abisola Aboaba
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Full%20%26%20Free%20by%20Abisola%20Aboaba.mp4
  • Film: Ajiro
    Synopsis:

    A paranoid young lady lives in fear during the corona virus lockdown. She receives a gift, and mistakenly touches are face, which sets her on a rampage to find a home medication to the virus.


    Student: Nwani Orire
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Ajiro%20by%20Nwani%20Orire.mp4
  • Film: Datish
    Synopsis:

    During a novel pandemic lockdown in Nigeria, a young woman tries to keep herself distracted but when another unprecedented shutdown occurs within her own home it plunges her into bleakness and discomfort until she learns to find joy for herself.


    Student: Julie Ako
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Datish%20by%20Julie%20Ako.mp4
  • Film: Surviving Hunger
    Synopsis:

    When hunger hits an underprivileged home, Rita, a single mother of two will have to do everything to get her children through the mandatory lockdown.


    Student: Chioma Paul-Dike
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Surviving%20Hunger%20by%20Chioma%20Paul-Dike.mp4
  • Film: In her Shoes
    Synopsis:

    During the Federal Government imposed compulsory lockdown, a young man who doesn't believe his wife is doing enough is left to take care of the baby when his wife, a nurse, is called back to work, causing him to adore his wife.


    Student: Igho Arusi
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/In%20her%20Shoes%20by%20Igho%20Arusi.mp4
  • Film: Adom
    Synopsis:

    In the midst of a pandemic, a young lady struggles internally & financially as she deals with the pressures from her landlady whom she’s been owing and ignoring for so many months. Grace is her portion when the landlady surprises her in the most peak and difficult time and offers her a deal she was never expecting.


    Student: Christine Boateng
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Adom%20by%20Christine%20Boateng.mp4
  • Film: Relax!
    Synopsis:

    In a bid to calm here anxieties, Peace tries out the activities that have always been calming to her; meditation, a nice cool shower but none of them seem to work and her anxieties about the virus that has shut down the world and other happenings that have caused an unrest in the world are magnified in her head. So when she hears a loud knock on her door, she fears the worst; that is until she realizes it is her best friend who has sent her some ice cream ahead of their preplanned virtual movie night.


    Student: Daphne Atsutse
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Relax%21%20by%20Daphne%20Atsutse.mp4
  • Film: Aro’s Setback
    Synopsis:

    Diligent Aro loses his job as a result of the pandemic. Everything goes downhill as his finances crisis breaks him. He must find means to foot his bills or get a new job.


    Student: Gbenga Gomes
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Aro%20Setback%20by%20Gbenga%20Gomes.mp4
  • Film: Something New
    Synopsis:

    When a pandemic causes Adwoa to lose her job as a travel blogger at a travel agency, her life comes to a standstill. She starts to sink into depression until a text from her friend propels her to take control of her life and begin all over again.


    Student: Eric Okyerefo
    Music Rights:
    /sites/default/files/2020-09/Something%20New%20by%20Eric%20Okyerefo.mp4