Online Reporter
FOR television content to connect with viewers, the creators of the content need to reach into the hearts and minds of those viewers and deliver stories that resonate and succeed.
This is a message that has been delivered with consistency within the theory and practice that makes up the core structure of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) programme.
It’s an initiative that aims to upgrade Africa’s pool of filmmaking talent and enhance the standard of the continent’s productions for film and television output.
Gerald Ngonyamo, head of corporate affairs and public relations of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the MTF programme had made substantial progress with both these ambitions and the inclusion of Zimbabwean students in each year’s course numbers meant this country was very much part of that continental upgrade.
“Entertainment is ultimately a form of communication, forging human connections through the power of authentic content that stirs human emotions,” he said. “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.” Ngonyamo said that in a recent discussion, leading industry executives felt that the success of a production was resonance.
“They said it’s about meeting audiences where they are now, with content that reflects their world and speaks their language,” he said.
“It was felt the most powerful productions don’t just entertain and that they also evoke emotion and reflection of 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.
MultiChoice has had three decades of producing content that seeks to enrich lives across Africa.
“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.
“To connect with its audience, a production must balance creative excellence with production quality and pacing that keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end. “Ultimately, the question asked is: does this story move people enough to make them talk about it, share it and come back for more?”
Achieving production quality relies on the talented teams which create shows and films – and, of course, skills come from training.
The pan-African MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative is dedicated to helping up-and-coming storytellers develop their talent and enables them to make commercially viable shows that touch people’s hearts.
“MultiChoice invests in capacity building and mentorship through platforms like MTF,” said Ngonyamo.
“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.”
MTF training allows young filmmakers that have included Zimbabwean students Tatenda Kombora and Anthony Chiturike who were part of 2025-2026 graduating class to obtain practical experience beyond their theoretical training, over the MTF programme.
They also contribute to the creative and production sectors, as graduates regularly secure jobs or start their own companies. MTF also develops talent for MultiChoice, which develops the industry.
Ngonyamo said industry-relevant training was invaluable, but the raw material that MultiChoice traded in was actual stories, which needed sound foundations.
“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.
“Whether it’s joy, pain, triumph or struggle, audiences connect to honesty on screen.”
MultiChoice and its MTF programme encourage young people to engage with the world around them, channel their observations into their work and pitch them in the right forums. “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.” – H-Metro Reporter/Multichoice
