MultiChoice Talent Factory Eastern Africa Academy has graduated 19 young filmmakers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. They have mark the end of a nine-month training programme aimed at preparing new talent for Africa’s growing film and television industry.
The graduates completed practical training across directing, producing, cinematography, scriptwriting and editing. They also worked with experienced industry mentors. Their projects focused on telling original African stories and building the skills needed for work in a fast-changing screen sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Academy Director Victoria Goro said the graduation was both an achievement and a starting point. She said the graduates now carry the task of shaping Africa’s creative future through the stories they tell, the businesses they build and the partnerships they form.
The graduation comes as demand for local content continues to rise across East Africa, supported by the growth of streaming platforms and stronger interest in African storytelling. In Kenya, the creative sector is estimated to contribute between 5% and 5.6% of GDP, highlighting its increasing role in economic growth and job creation.
MultiChoice Talent Factory Creative Economy Gains Momentum
Vincent Opiyo, Trustee of the MultiChoice Trust Foundation and Regional Finance Director at MultiChoice Group, said the company remains focused on investing in local talent, widening content distribution opportunities and supporting platforms that help African creators grow.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Hon. Fikirini Jacobs, said programmes such as MultiChoice Talent Factory show how creative excellence can create real opportunity for young people and support national development goals.
The academy also continues its partnership with Kenyatta University, its regional academic partner. Vice-Chancellor Professor John Okumu said such collaborations are important in helping young creatives gain both academic grounding and industry-ready skills.
Since launching in 2018, the MultiChoice Talent Factory East Africa Academy has produced alumni who have gone on to start production companies and earn recognition across the continent. Recent successes include 2023 alumnus Maurice Muendo, recognized at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards, and 2024 alumni Brian Kabogozza and Sihnemariam Abebe, nominated at the 2026 Kalasha Awards.
