LAGOS, Nigeria, March 30, 2022/ — The longstanding successful partnership between the MultiChoice Group (www.MultiChoice.com) and the United Nations Verified Campaign has been to include the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF). MTF alumni have been commissioned again to produce a new COVID-19 campaign for the global body.
The campaign, titled Together We Can, aims to fight pandemic fatigue, sharing a public-service announcement (PSA) that encourages people to continue following COVID-19 safety protocols.
The MTF has already supported several UN Verified campaigns – including the Pause campaign against misinformation and the Zwakala COVID-19 awareness drive – with MultiChoice harnessing the power of its platforms to give audiences access to credible, accurate COVID-19 information.
The latest PSA was shot in Nigeria, Angola, and Namibia, and will resonate with audiences across the continent. The PSA’s will be broadcast across Africa on DStv and GOtv channels, as well as some key free-to-air channels.
“We are very excited to again have MultiChoice on board to help produce our campaign content and expand our reach across Africa,” says Masimba. “Multichoice is uniquely positioned to deliver this important message to their diverse audiences across the continent,” says Mr Masimba Tafirenyika, Director, UN Information Centre, Pretoria South Africa.
The campaign is the result of another powerful partnership – between MultiChoice and the New York Film Academy (NYFA), which sees high-performing graduates of MTF academies in Nairobi, Lagos and Lusaka selected for further training through NYFA.
“Campaigns like these are a great vehicle for the talented creative professionals that Africa produces,” says NYFA VP Jim Miller. “It’s also proof of how effective the MTF and NYFA collaboration has been. It’s a natural extension of our commitment to help bolster the skills of talented African storytellers.”
The campaign is also an endorsement of the MTF curriculum, which allows students and graduates to collaborate with global partners on practical work with real-world relevance, so they can contribute to society, while building the skills to become industry professionals or entrepreneurs.
MTF Director Nwabisa Matyumza says, MTF alumni have now come full circle, from learning skills to applying what they have learned, for the benefit of African audiences.
“This campaign is a great opportunity for MTF graduates to multiply our impact across Africa,” says Matyumza. “For a student (now alumni) from Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya or Angola to now be working with global clients is a massive step. To influence behaviour and save lives as part of this global programme is even more exciting.”
“We’re very intentional about ensuring that MTF alumni work on the productions,” says Reatile Tekateka, Multichoice Africa Group Executive Head of Corporate Affairs. “These are commercial jobs, paid for by the UN, to raise COVID-19 awareness. For MultiChoice, it’s a great chance to be a platform for good, while creating opportunities for young people and strengthen global partnerships.”
Strategic relationships with likeminded global partners like those with the UN and NYFA have seen around 92% of MTF alumni go on to find work in the broadcast industry or launch their own production companies. MultiChoice also regularly commissions MTF alumni to produce its own content.
“We’re proud to play a role in developing our industry,” says Tekateka. “We are creating opportunities, but also empowering our alumni to become productive drivers of the sector themselves.”
Alumni quotes & bios:
| Quote | Bio |
| “One of the greatest values MTF has instilled in me is understanding the power of collaboration. Working with my colleagues from the other African hubs was an exciting experience. As a production company based in Lagos Nigeria, it was tough producing a PSA across 3 African countries, we at Conceptified Media are super excited to have lend our voices to stopping the spread of Corona virus around the world.” Nwani Orire, Conceptified Media | Nwani Orire Lucky is a fearless storyteller from Africa. The stories he tells, both in short forms or documentaries, are conscious and authentic stories, to awaken society and shine the light in areas people call grey. Some of his works have debuted on CNN, Africa Magic showcase, MTV Base, and film festivals such as New Vision International Film Festival, Nollywood Paris Week, Africa International Film Festival, Baltimore International Black Film Festival. He is an alumni of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, New York Film Academy and the Henley Business School. His works are consciously created to speak to audience all over the world. Joshua Tsotso is an enthusiastic visual storyteller, who strongly believes in the power of narratives in shaping our reality. An alumni of several film schools including the MTF, NYFA, PAU etc. As a film Director, his working principle is to create only when there’s something to say. As such, having possessed the right technical expertise, he moonlights as a freelancer, working in varying capacities in the creative industry. He is an emerging voice, with a strong artistic vision, stemming from the eventful world he’s been privileged to experience. |
| “Working on this production was something new to me because it was one PSA that is to be made in 3 different countries. but with good communication and team work, we pulled it together and made it possible. The collaboration between the team members was well planned and organized which I think was key to have made the PSA. And seeing the final video now is just amazing how good collaboration can be.” Hilma Sheehama, Director & Script Writer | Hilma Sheehama is a Director and Script Writer, she has worked on an award-winning film “Hairareb” as the first assistant director, production manager and production designer. She has also worked on the short film “Kegumbo okegumbo” as the director and writer. Hilma is a College of the Arts, MTF and New York Film Academy Alumni and is the prize winner of the script writing internship, with Nihilent Technologies which is based in India. |
| “This PSA was the most important experience I had during these very turbulent times, working on this PSA demanded a lot of rigor, determination and creativity from me, our work was a reflection of what we learned during the times we were at MTF Academy. thank you Multichoice for the training opportunity and thank you UN for the job opportunity.” Paulo Idalecio, Journalist & Filmmaker | Paulo Idalecio is a journalist and filmmaker, with a background in Cinema and Audiovisual, he attended schools such as; São Paulo International Film Academy in Brazil. Graduated from Multichoice Talent Factory Academy in Zambia. He graduated in journalism at Cefojor (Journalists Training Center) in Angola. Usually works as a freelancer, providing services to companies such as Envolve Media, PROCINEIA, Geração 80, DSTV Angola and others, having produced several short films, advertisements, music videos and documentaries, with emphasis on the short film OS SECRETOS DA VILLAGE. |
