No fewer than 20 young filmmakers from Nigeria and Ghana have completed the 2026 cohort of the MultiChoice Talent Factory West Africa Academy.
This is an initiative of MultiChoice, a Canal + Company, designed to develop young talent for Africa’s film and television industry.
The nine-month programme, put in place in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University, blends academic excellence with hands-on industry exposure, offering specialised training in directing, producing, scriptwriting, cinematography, and editing.
Demonstrating their readiness for the business of film, five graduates launched two independent companies during the academic year: Muri Marun Stories, a production house founded by Tolulope Akande, Opeyemi Obasa, and Dorathy Ufot; and CineX Mart Limited, a marketing and distribution firm established by Abdulsalam Ibrahim Oladimeji and Audu Israel Yakubu.
In recognition of this innovation, Muri Marun Stories Limited was announced as the recipient of the CEO’s Entrepreneurial Award, accompanied by a N2 million prize to support the company’s growth.
CineX Mart Limited also received special recognition for its strong business potential and early industry traction. It is already making significant industry inroads, having successfully placed the short film The Phone Call on Minflix and managing the marketing for the MTF film Trouble for Two.
Individual creative excellence was equally prominent, with student Kwaku Edusei Acquah earning the Audience Choice Award at the Lift-Off Global Network Film Festival for his film. The Imperfect Plan, alongside notable projects from peers Amirat Yakub and Emmanuella Nwachukwu.
Further recognising his outstanding creativity, Kwaku Edusei Acquah was awarded the Creative Innovator Award by the University for the Creative Arts, presented by Seyi Agboola, Senior International Recruitment Manager. The award comes with a £1,500 prize to support his continued development.
“This graduation marks a defining moment not just for these students, but for the future of African storytelling. They are no longer learners, but part of a distinguished creative community shaping narratives across the continent.
“Through their work, they are already creating jobs, inspiring communities, and positioning African stories where they belong; at the centre of the global stage,” the chief executive of MultiChoice Nigeria, Ms Kemi Omotosho, said.
On his part, the Dean for the School of Media and Communication at Pan Atlantic University, Mr Ikechukwu Obiaya, said, “This is the end of a phase, but only the beginning of your journey. You must commit to continuous learning, collaboration, and curiosity. The industry does not reward complacency; it rewards those who are intentional about growth.”
MTF’s long-term impact is best mirrored in the global success of its alumni. Most recently, the Class of 2021’s digital platform, Filmmakers Mart, received World Bank Group support to fuel a five-country expansion. Furthermore, Blessing Bulus earned the Women in Arts Impact Grant for the documentary Mi Tazi, while Ebuwa Desmond Ekunwe secured a prestigious fellowship at Germany’s Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
Additionally, Alice Johnson has stepped into a key leadership role at the Goethe-Institut, coordinating Africa-Europe cultural partnerships.
