New York Film Academy partners with MultiChoice Talent Factory

This groundbreaking collaboration will identify and exploit opportunities to further enhance the ongoing professional development of selected high-performing graduates of the  MTF academies. The partnership aligns with MTF’s mission to ignite Africa’s creative industries through training and skills development, as well as to foster new and original programming.

Significantly, the partnership will also be leveraged for upskilling of established film and television creatives through initiatives such as masterclasses. The much anticipated MTF masterclasses kicked off in January, supported by various industry partners and include a series of “best in class” workshops intended to increase MultiChoice Talent Factory’s purpose of upskilling film and TV creatives. Taking place across various African cities, the masterclasses are also presented to industry professionals with the intention of developing technical skills of established creatives in cinematography, audio, and storytelling to improve the quality of local productions.

“This groundbreaking collaboration speaks to our commitment to partnering with industry experts such as NYFA to promote and protect the growth of Africa’s creative industries,” says Cheryl Uys-Allie, MTF Director. “Our East Africa Academy Director, Njoki Muhoho is a NYFA alumni, having studied Filmmaking at the Los Angeles campus and we’re excited about this collaboration to offer incredible opportunities to our students and the sector as a whole.”

Endorsement of the MTF, confirms the film school’s continued commitment to empower and develop filmmakers across the world. For more than a decade, NYFA has lent support to African content creators and performers by hosting workshops across the continent.  The prestigious institution's faculty has met with thousands of students in Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria and further bridged its hands-on intensive training in both the visual and performing arts, as well as offering information sessions, auditions, and portfolio reviews to attendees.

NYFA prides itself in developing students through a “learning by doing” approach,blending a mixture of traditional film school instruction with coursework and practical experience. Consequently, students learn to make films by actually making films.

“The New York Film Academy is honored to be a part of the enrichment, development, and fostering of storytellers across Africa, a continent steeped in a rich history of dynamic, creative and passionate visual and performing artists,” states Jim Miller, NYFAVP. “Over the years, NYFA has been privileged to have hosted hundreds of students—from dozens of African nations—many who have found outstanding success in their national industries when they returned home. This MTF and NYFA collaboration is a natural extension of our commitment to help bolster the skills of talented African storytellers.”

 About MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF)

The African continent is steeped in a rich and diverse history of living passionately through language, art, music, and colorful storytelling. As the continent continues to change rapidly, the entertainment industry has become ever more relevant. MultiChoice Africa has identified an opportunity in this fast-changing environment—one that will have a lasting impact on the industry as a whole. The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is multi-tiered training program designed by MultiChoice Africa to focus on positively impacting the technical and professional value chain in the film and television industry across the continent. As a business born and bred in Africa we have a long-term commitment to making a socioeconomic difference in the countries in which we operate. As such, this initiative will help to play a positive role in growing Africa’s creative industries. This training program, which is being rolled out in partnership with stakeholders across the continent, provides the creative industries a platform to learn and develop their talent and engage and connect with each other through their shared passions. Working hand-in-hand with local creative organizations, and regulatory and government partners across the continent, we use our people, facilities, and network to provide young emerging filmmakers with a tailored 12-month training program, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, experience, and qualifications to help launch a successful career within the creative industry. Through the MTF, MultiChoice Africa’s legacy will emphasize our commitment to enriching lives by developing the art of inspired local storytelling and story making, while simultaneously growing local content on our DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms and ultimately continue showcasing Africa’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. More information available on www.multichoicetalentfactory.com

About New York Film Academy (NYFA)

The New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing (NYFA) teaches students the art of filmmaking and related visual and performing arts through blending traditional school instruction with practical, hands-on experience. NYFA is the largest independent international film and acting school in the world. Since 1992, NYFA has been offering innovative curricula, award-winning instructors, and the highest quality professional equipment, classrooms, and studios. NYFA works to further a global understanding of—and appreciation for—the art and craft of visual storytelling through the education and training of interested and qualified individuals, and to hone the skills of future professionals so that they may one day serve the visual storytelling arts as industry leaders. NYFA has campuses and permanent education sites in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami (South Beach), Gold Coast (Australia), Paris, and Florence. NYFA has established educational partnerships with colleges and universities around the world and have run workshops in more than 40 countries including Brazil, China, England, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, and Spain. More information available on www.nyfa.edu