Online Reporter
Mbulelo [email protected]
THE MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) programme is placing audience connection, authentic storytelling and production excellence at the centre of efforts to develop Africa’s next generation of filmmakers.
The pan-African initiative, which seeks to develop the continent’s filmmaking talent and improve the standard of film and television productions, continues to include Zimbabwean students among its annual cohorts, giving local creatives an opportunity to gain practical industry experience and world-class training.
Gerald Ngonyamo, head of corporate affairs and public relations at MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the programme had made significant progress towards strengthening the continent’s creative talent pool.
“Entertainment is ultimately a form of communication, forging human connections through the power of authentic content that stirs human emotions. An industry built on entertainment carries great mystique, with thousands of aspiring filmmakers dreaming of entering the sector. Becoming a filmmaker is about telling stories that touch people’s souls,” he said.
Ngonyamo said leading industry executives had recently identified resonance as one of the defining characteristics of a successful production.
“It’s about meeting audiences where they are now, with content that reflects their world and speaks their language,” he said.
“The most powerful productions don’t just entertain, but also evoke emotion and reflect truth. Connection happens when a story feels real, when viewers see themselves, their aspirations or their struggles reflected on screen.”
The MTF programme seeks to reinforce this understanding by equipping aspiring filmmakers with the creative and technical skills needed to transform compelling ideas into quality productions.
MultiChoice, a CANAL+-owned company, has spent three decades producing content aimed at enriching lives across Africa, with the selection and development of stories forming an important part of the production process.
“The question is always whether the concept being presented is something that will be fresh, relatable and exciting for our audiences — and whether the vision on paper can be executed on screen,” said Ngonyamo.
He said the process from commissioning to production was focused on ensuring stories received the technical treatment they deserved.
“To connect with its audience, a production must balance creative excellence with production quality and pacing that keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end,” he said.
“Ultimately, the question asked is: Does this story move people enough to make them talk about it, share it and come back for more?”
Ngonyamo said achieving such production quality depended heavily on talented teams, making training critical to the development of the industry.
The MTF initiative provides young storytellers with an opportunity to develop their abilities while learning how to create commercially viable productions that can resonate with audiences.
“MultiChoice invests in capacity building and mentorship through platforms like MTF,” he said.
“The three MTF academies in Lusaka, Nairobi and Lagos are places where young filmmakers learn to express their cultural identity through world-class storytelling techniques. Zimbabwean students gain their added value at the Lusaka academy, which is for Southern Africa’s aspiring filmmakers.”
Zimbabwean students Tatenda Kombora and Anthony Chiturike, who were part of the 2025-2026 graduating class, are among the young filmmakers to have benefited from the programme.
The training provides practical experience beyond theoretical instruction, while graduates are also able to contribute to the broader creative and production sectors, with some securing employment and others establishing their own companies.
Ngonyamo said while industry-relevant training was important, successful filmmaking ultimately depended on the strength and authenticity of the stories being told.
“Do your research. Stay close to your audience. Speak to people. Don’t sit in a corner and write in isolation,” he said.
“Understand what people want. Yes, we want to surprise audiences — but that comes from insights you only gain by engaging with the world around you. It’s about telling the truth in a beautiful way.”
He encouraged emerging filmmakers to prioritise meaning and authenticity rather than simply following popular trends.
“Whether it’s joy, pain, triumph or struggle, audiences connect to honesty on screen. Don’t chase trends; chase meaning. Craft your story with care, ground it in real emotion and present it with excellence. If your story touches hearts, changes perceptions or starts conversations, then you’ve succeeded.”
The MTF programme is consequently positioning young creatives not only as technicians, but also as observers and interpreters of the societies around them, encouraging them to turn everyday experiences and observations into meaningful stories.
MultiChoice is also urging emerging filmmakers to take their ideas to the appropriate platforms and engage with the wider industry.
“We are saying to the young creators: You are the generation we’ve been waiting for. You hold the power to make stories matter, to make them connect. We’ll help you bring them to life. Come share your stories; the world is ready for you.”
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