MultiChoice Uganda launches call for entries for the MultiChoice Talent Factory film skills development program 2023

Kampala,20^th June 2023 – MultiChoice Uganda the home of great Pay-Tv entertainment has today called for eligible applicants to apply for the MultiChoice Talent Factory film skills development program.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory film skills development program offers eligible applicants who are passionate about telling their own stories a unique opportunity to improve their skills and ultimately contribute to the growth of the Ugandan film industry.

The applicants will go through a rigorous 3-month selection processand thereafter; theselected candidates will be flown to Nairobi, Kenya where they will develop both theoretical and hands-on skills in script writing, cinematography, editing and audio post production.

This call is an opportunity for young Ugandan filmmakers to take a chance on the opportunity to sharpen their skills and contribute to the growth and development of their talents to aid the growth of the Ugandan film industry

Speaking at the launch event, Rinaldi Jamugisa, PR and Communications Manager, MultiChoice Uganda highlighted how the local film industry has grown and the need for skilled professionals to push it to the next level.

“Our industry is fast growing and the quality of films has greatly improved from what we’ve seen in the past. We haven’t yet gotten to where we yearn to be as a market, but through sustained training opportunities like this, the aspects of scriptwriting, cinematography, acting, editing,pre and post production among others are taught in depth and students are exposed to hands on skills in these areas,” Jamugisa explained.

Jamugisa expounded on the opportunities the selected participants get to experience with the different partnerships stating, “We have partnered with experts in the industry from the New York film academy, Nihilent, Fox, Universal Music and Dolby to train the students through an intensive 12-month program,” adding that, “Uganda has had some of the best students from the past cohorts, with some winning awards on an international level, like the AMVCAs, Kalasha awards as well as local awards like the Uganda Film Festival.”

Since inception of the programme in October 2018 when the first cohort started, MultiChoice Talent Factory has trained over 60 students from Eastern Africa including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Eritrea and 12 from Uganda with an overallfemale to male ratio of 45:55.

At the launch, renownedaward-winning sound engineer and alumni of the Academy, Isiko Abubaker commented on how his experience with MTF has shaped his career.

“The MTF experience was transformative, providing me with state-of-the-art technical training. It exposed me to industry professionals who challenged me to think beyond the ordinary and encouraged me to embrace innovation. Additionally, I received comprehensive training and certification in Dolby and Avid Sound Pro Tools, skills that I have successfully applied to numerous projects. Some of these projects have even been featured on Pearl Magic and Pearl Magic Prime, leading me to win awards in the Sound categories of various prestigious events, including the recent Uganda Film Festival.”

Jamugisa appealed to film makers to sign up and stand a chance to equip themselves and grow their careers stating, “It is therefore my appeal to each film maker to embrace this opportunity, sign up and stand a chance to learn and get trained by some of the best film makers worldwide. Each year, we select the top four candidates from regions, therefore, put your best foot forward as you make your applications for the program.”

Further support to film makers in Uganda has been through the introduction of local channels; Pearl Magic, Pearl Magic Prime, Pearl Magic Loko and Maisha Magic Movies on DStv and GOtv,tailored for Ugandan local content.Think you’ve got what it takes? Then visit https://multichoicetalentfactory.com/ to find out more!

Applications open from Monday, 19th June and close on Friday, 14^th July 2023, and have to be completed on https://multichoicetalentfactory.com/cte/before end of day (11.59PM). Applications made outside of this website will not be considered.

The African continent is steeped in a rich and diverse history of living passionately through language, art, music, and colorful storytelling. As the continent continues to change rapidly, the entertainment industry has become ever more relevant. MultiChoice Africa has identified an opportunity in this fast-changing environment—one that will have a lasting impact on the industry. The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is a multi-tiered training programme (Academies, Masterclasses & Portal) designed by MultiChoice Africa to focus on positively impacting the technical and professional value chain in the film and television industry across the continent. As a business born and bred in Africa, we have a long-term commitment to making a socioeconomic difference in the countries in which we operate. As such, this initiative helps to play a positive role in growing Africa’s creative industries.

MTF is a shared-value initiative that provides a platform for the creative industries to develop their talent and engage with one another through their shared passions. Through the MTF Academies in Nairobi, Lagos, Lusaka and Johannesburg (every year, the academies select 74 talented individuals from across 14 countries to participate in a 12-month academic and practical immersion programme including both theory and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling) we are building a pipeline of good local content for our channels whilst the Masterclasses focus on developing technical skills of established creatives in cinematography, audio and storytelling to improve the quality of local productions and are conducted by leading African and international industry experts.

The MTF Portal is the golden thread that brings talent and opportunities together on one platform. It is a Pan-African, film and television digital marketplace that offers open, cost-free access to film creatives across the continent to showcase their talent, access opportunities, stay up to date with industry news and expand their industry network. Through this initiative, MultiChoice Africa’s demonstrates its commitment to enriching lives by developing the art of inspired local storytelling and story making, while simultaneously growing a legacy of local content on our DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms and ultimately continue showcasing Africa’s rich cultural heritage and diversity.