The current MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) course for aspiring southern African filmmakers moved up a notch recently when the students moved from online training in their home countries to in-situ training at the MTF Academy venue in Lusaka, Zambia.
Two Zimbabwean students, Tatenda Kombora and Anthony Chiturike, are on this year’s course, following in the footsteps of the other young Zimbabweans who have been part of the MTF journey since it was launched in 2018.
Twenty participants from Southern Africa are enrolled for the Lusaka-based course this year.
The MTF training initiative gives the students a chance to develop skills and learn all about the process of filmmaking, as well as helping them become participants in Africa’s fast-growing film and television production landscape.
Created to substantially increased the pool of skills and talent across Africa, MTF has so far turned out several hundred trained and eager professionals, some of whom are already making a major difference to the industry.
Kombora (24) is thrilled with the transition to in-situ training, where the diversity of the student base has been her most cherished discovery.
Her colleague, Chiturike, has found the transition from online to actual refreshing and rewarding and he describes the vibe of the venue as “energetic and inspiring”.
“I have been amazed at the variety of languages and people and to interact with them all has been an eye-opening experience,” Kombora said.
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She describes the previous months of online training as lessons offering a time of learning the whole production cycle.
She has been on the set of one of Zambia’s biggest television productions, Impali, in her second week where she “found transformational” experience.
Her class has already shot five independent short films and more will follow.
Chiturike, however, says “while online learning may offer balance and flexibility the great thing about actual physical learning is that it is so hands-on and inspiring”.
“The mentorship has been supportive and practical, offering real guidance and valuable industry insights,” Chiturike said.
He also spent two weeks on the Impali show and has followed that up with involvement in making a one-hour production. For him the greatest part of the experience is the ability to collaborate and the discovery of a strong MTF community, of which he is an important part.
Offering advice to future MTF applicants, Kombora said: “speak to alumni, research the programme and be part of a webinar I am hosting to assist potential students with my learning experience.
“I’m here to help them if I can,” she said, adding that her e-mail address was [email protected].
