Multichoice Talent Factory Networking Portal Introduces Instant Messaging Feature

The feature allows connected portal members to interact directly with each other

 23 May 2019: MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), the flagship shared-value initiative created by MultiChoice Africa, is excited to announce that the recently-launched MTF networking portal will now include a real-time messaging component that will enable connected members to network and interact directly with each other! This portal improvement forms part of the initiative’s commitment to igniting Africa’s creative industries.

Launched in March, the portal is a pan-African, film and television digital marketplace for information about all aspects of this creative industry. The portal offers open, cost-free access to film creatives across Africa to showcase their talent, access opportunities, stay up to date with industry news and expand their industry network. To date, the portal has over 15,000 registered profiles.

The new messaging component will allow anyone with a registered profile to connect with any other creative within the portal’s network in real-time. Cheryl Uys-Allie, MultiChoice Talent Factory Director, says that this added function makes the portal an even more valuable platform for film professionals and emerging creatives in the industry. “Collaboration and knowledge-sharing is what our industry is built upon, and no one knows this better than MultiChoice, collaborating with hundreds of creatives daily to feed our content platforms. Now that the world is paying even more attention to African stories, it’s important that we as African creatives have our own platform that understands and supports the complexities of making films and TV in Africa. I feel privileged to be part of these game-changing initiatives for the industry,” she says.

The portal is the third touchpoint of the shared-value initiative, following the launch of the MTF Academy in three regions and the MTF Masterclasses. Launched in 2018, the MTF Academy is a 12-month film training programme aimed at upskilling the next generation of passionate young film creatives. Following the successful start of its inaugural year, the MTF Academy is searching for 60 aspiring film and TV creatives from across the continent for the next year, to be part of the Class of 2019. Emerging filmmakers are required to apply for entry on https://cte.multichoicetalentfactory.com/ before 14 June 2019 and follow the steps to enter.

The chosen creatives will be a part of the sought-after year-long and fully funded programme at three academy hubs located in Southern Africa (Lusaka, Zambia), East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) and West Africa (Lagos, Nigeria) headed by industry leaders Berry Lwando, Njoki Muhoho, and Femi Odugbemi respectively.  

The MTF Masterclasses, which were launched in January 2019, are the second touch point of the shared-value initiative that will also feed into the MTF portal soon. Are you signed up to the MTF portal? Don’t wait! Join over 15 000 creatives right now on www.multichoicetalentfactory.com who are constantly informed about exciting new opportunities from the creative industry. One of the opportunities currently available on the portal includes M-Net’s search for proposals for a high-end drama in Kenya and Nigeria. M-Net is looking for proposals for a high-end drama for its Maisha Magic East channel in Kenya and Africa Magic channels in Nigeria as well as Showmax platform. As the most loved African storyteller, MultiChoice continues to increase investment in local content, taking African stories to the rest of the world. Interested parties have until Monday, 29th July 2019 to submit their proposal to M-Net. For more information on this opportunity, visit www.multichoicetalentfactory.com.

Click here to submit a proposal for the Kenya series:

 https://submissions.mnetcorporate.co.za/request/high-end-series_47

Click here to submit a proposal for the Nigeria series: 

https://submissions.mnetcorporate.co.za/request/high-end-drama-series-nigeria_48

Join the MTF social media conversation on the hashtag #MultichoiceTalentFactory and follow/join:

·        Instagram: @multichoicetalentfactory;

·       Twitter: @MCTalentFactory

·       Facebook: @multichoiceafricatalentfactory

 If you have any questions about the MultiChoice Talent Factory, please contact us on [email protected]

About the MultiChoice Talent Factory:

The African continent is steeped in a rich and diverse history of living passionately through language, art, music, and colourful 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 a multi-tiered training programme (Academies, Masterclasses & Portal) 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 helps to play a positive role in growing Africa’s creative industries. MTF is a shared-value initiative that provides a platform for the creative industries to develop their talent and engage with one another through their shared passions. Through the MTF Academies (every year, the academies select 60 talented individuals from across 13 countries to participate in a 12-month academic and practical immersion programme including both theory and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling) we are building a pipeline of good local content for our channels whilst the Masterclasses focus on developing technical skills of established creatives in cinematography, audio and storytelling to improve the quality of local productions and are conducted by leading African and international industry experts. The MTF Portal is the golden thread that brings talent and opportunities together on one platform. It is a Pan-African, film and television digital marketplace that offers open, cost-free access to film creatives across the continent to showcase their talent, access opportunities, stay up to date with industry news and expand their industry network. Through this initiative, MultiChoice Africa’s demonstrates its commitment to enriching lives by developing the art of inspired local storytelling and story making, while simultaneously growing a legacy of 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