The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), MultiChoice’s flagship shared-value initiative, is proud to announce the launch of a virtual pop-up event The 20/20 Series on the MTF Portal www.multichoicetalentfactory.com. MTF has partnered with the New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NFYA) to bring this web series to African filmmakers exclusively through the MTF Portal.
Created and moderated by NYFA’s Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography, Liz Hinlein, each episode of The 20/20 Series features a conversation between Liz and creative visionaries across the globe, bringing viewers into their homes, hubs and workspaces to share their artistic practice and process.
From cinematographers to screenwriters, producers and more, The 20/20 Series includes industry professionals spanning filmic disciplines. Guests so far have included award-winning filmmaker and MTF Academy Director (West Africa) Femi Odugbemi, writer, director and producer Sarah Pirozek and Golden Globe nominated actor Piper Perabo, and many more. Liz Hinlein, who curated the discussions to provide insight into the creative vision of artists, has also opened up the conversation to audiences, giving them the chance to ask questions.
“African storytelling is extraordinarily unique and has roots that are deep in traditions and history like no other. New York Film Academy has been privileged to host thousands of African creative storytellers over the years as students and we are always looking for new ways to share NYFA’s approach to film education with aspiring African filmmakers and members of the vibrant African film industry. The NYFA partnership with the MultiChoice Talent Factory is a tremendous benefit in this regard and we are honored that as part of this collaboration MTF will host NYFA’s The 20/20 Series.” – NYFA President Michael J Young
The MTF and NYFA partnership kicked off in 2018, during the inaugural year of MTF, and in 2019, this relationship saw three MTF students – one from each of the three academies in West (Lagos), East (Nairobi) and Southern (Lusaka) – given the once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in an eight-week long film workshop at NYFA campus in New York City.
As one of the world’s leading visual and performing arts schools, NYFA has been an important partner to MTF. Strategic partnerships with internationally acclaimed organisations like NYFA have helped MTF unlock unique opportunities to empower Africa’s creative industries to tell authentic stories to a global audience.
“The launch of NYFA’s The 20/20 Series on the MTF Portal is part of MultiChoice’s commitment to amplify creative voices and constructively impact entertainment industries in Africa. The 20/20 Series enables critical discussions on film and TV, inspires film and TV creatives across the African continent and assists in building global connections into the future.” – Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO General Entertainment.
To watch The 20/20 Series, which is now available on the MTF Portal, visit the MTF Portal. If you haven’t registered on the portal yes, please click on the link to register for free: https://multichoicetalentfactory.com/user/register.
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
If you have any questions about the MultiChoice Talent Factory, please contact us on info@multichoicetalentfactory.com
About the New York Film Academy:
New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA) is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), nationally accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), and an approved higher education institution by the U.S. Department of Education. NYFA is ranked in the top film schools in the world by the industry professionals at Variety and Hollywood Reporter publications.
NYFA is designed for a new generation of storytellers – artists who share a driving passion and want to learn by doing, creating their own projects in a hands-on, intensive environment.
From day one, NYFA programs balance rigorous academics with practical application to train students to tell compelling visual stories and develop their skills to the fullest extent possible. Students learn to operate industry-standard equipment and software while working in professional facilities, all under the guidance of an award-winning faculty of professionals who remain active in their fields. Through the highest-quality, project-based education, NYFA students experience how all aspects of their chosen craft relate to, interact with, and depend upon each other.
NYFA welcomes students from diverse backgrounds from over 120 countries and all walks of life. This nurtures a supportive, positive atmosphere conducive to the level of collaboration necessary to create great work.
Students can choose from a rich variety of accelerated degree programs, 1- and 2-year conservatories, and workshops, as well as teen (pre-college) programs and kids camps in the visual and performing arts. NYFA offers programs online and also has campuses in New York City, Los Angeles, and South Beach, Miami; Gold Coast, Australia; and a year-round location and in Florence, Italy. Summer workshops are offered at numerous domestic and international locations including Harvard University, Paris, and more.
For more information visit www.nyfa.edu
