Nineteen young filmmakers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda graduated from the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) East Africa Academy in Nairobi on 16 April 2026, closing out a nine-month training programme run in partnership with Kenyatta University.
The Academy, now in its eighth year, trains aspiring creatives across directing, producing, cinematography, scriptwriting and editing. Each cohort produces industry-grade short films under the mentorship of working professionals, which has proven to be one of the programme’s more tangible outcomes. MTF alumni have gone on to set up production companies and pick up nominations at regional festivals.
The graduation lands at an interesting moment for the regional film industry. Kenya’s creative sector is estimated to contribute between 5% and 5.6% of GDP, according to the Kenya Investment Authority and sector analyses referenced by UNCTAD. Demand for local content has also been rising sharply, partly because streaming platforms operating on the continent have been commissioning more African originals to differentiate from global rivals.
That last bit is worth unpacking. MultiChoice, which runs MTF, is in the middle of a major restructuring. As Techish reported last month, the company is winding down Showmax after its new parent, Canal+, completed its takeover in 2025. Showmax originals will migrate to DStv Stream from April. That shift means the pipeline of trained local talent MTF produces is arguably more strategically valuable than ever — someone still needs to make the content, regardless of where it ends up streaming.
Speaking at the ceremony, Academy Director Victoria Goro told graduates their “success fuels local economies, inspires communities, and amplifies the voice of African storytelling on the global stage.” Regional Finance Director Vincent Opiyo reiterated MultiChoice’s commitment to investing in local talent and cross-border collaborations.
Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Okumu credited the industry-academia partnership as central to developing marketable skills rather than theory alone.
The graduates being recognised:
- Overall Best Student: Kelvin Dennis (Tanzania)
- Academy Director’s Award: Fredrick Mayiga (Uganda) and Lynn Obel (Kenya)
- Technical Excellence Award: Nahom Bahru (Ethiopia)
- Rising Star in Production Management: Jamleck Lewis (Kenya)
MTF alumni have built momentum in recent months. 2023 alumnus Maurice Muendo is nominated at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), scheduled for 9 May 2026 in Lagos, for his directorial debut Bobo, which premiered at the 2025 Joburg Film Festival. Class of 2024 alumni Brian Kabogozza and Sihnemariam Abebe are also up for Best Student Film at the upcoming Kalasha Awards for Dinner for Three.
For graduates, the real test now begins outside the classroom, in an industry that is growing but still grappling with monetisation gaps, piracy, and uneven financing.
