The MTF Academy offers multi-disciplinary training programmes aimed at developing the next generation of African storytellers. Every year, classes of students graduate from MTF academies in Lusaka, Lagos and Nairobi. The graduation ceremony for the Southern Africa MTF Academy was held in Lusaka on November 27, 2024. The event celebrated the talent and hard work of this year’s cohort, as well as recognising the achievements of earlier cohorts who have gone on to find success in the industry. “Each year for the past five years, 20 creatives from seven Southern African countries have passed through this ground-breaking programme,” said MTF Southern Africa Academy Director, Christopher Puta. “Each of these 100 young people have emerged with a fresh sense of direction in their lives, with useful skills, and the promise of a bright future. We are proud of them, and proud to be helping to build our industry.” This year’s MTF Southern Africa Academy students completed a 12-month programme of workshops, lectures, practical film productions and masterclasses, where they gained skills in everything from screenwriting and editing to sound design, producing and directing.
The top three performers of this year’s cohort were also celebrated for their outstanding achievements. First place went to Hidlson de Jesus Valentim who won a six-week internship at NYFA, Beatus Msamange who took second place, received a two-week internship with Zee World, while Goitsemang Chalumbila in third place earned a two-week internship with MultiChoice in SA. These prestigious opportunities will help further their careers in the film and television industry. The MTF course is created in collaboration with international partners, the New York Film Academy, Indian satellite TV channel Zee World as well as a long-standing partnership with the University of Zambia. These partners provide training, course content and internship opportunities that allow MTF students to continue their career growth. At the graduation, Puta proudly shared some of the achievements of former MTF graduates and encouraged this year’s cohort to take inspiration from their successes. Recent accomplishments by MTF alumni include: • Chimwemwe Chipidza from Zimbabwe placing second in the African Monologue Championships in Kampala, Uganda. • Zambian Amos Mwape winning first prize in the Twalumba Resort & Hotels content-creation competition. • Namibia’s Tekla Nakale winning the best scriptwriting award for the film Ataman at the Multichoice Namibia Film Festival. • Angolan MTF alumnus Eltina Gasper successfully producing three short films: environmental piece Luxury in Trash; Look and You Will Hear Me, about pregnant deaf women; and Hotel Panorama, about an iconic building. • Zambia’s Mary Siamwanda being cast in a key role in the new season of Zambian telenovela Chokolo. • Leading Zambian post-production company Wathinta Imbokodo hiring four MTF graduates and offering paid internships to three further graduates.
