Sixty students from across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa - excluding South Africa where M-Net is running its 4-year old Magic in Motion Academy that the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is based on - are getting the opportunity of a yearlong internship in film and TV production.
Out of over 3 100 applications, 20 students were chosen for each of the three new film academies.
Dora Siliya, Zambia's minister of information and broadcasting services and chief Zambian government spokesperson who did the ribbon-cutting of the building, who was the keynote speaker at the event that saw media, TV producers, artists, singers, government and broadcast regulatory officials, as well as MultiChoice Africa executives from across Southern Africa attending.
It took place at the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM) in Lusaka, an independent media training trust, where the Southern African MultiChoice Talent Factory is located in a recently refurbished section of the ZAMCOM building equipped with new technology, lecture and study rooms, as well as a green screen studio/lecture room.
Students at each of the three film academies will create local content that will be broadcast on the various M-Net channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv satellite pay-TV platforms throughout Africa, including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, Maisha Magic Bongo, Zambezi Magic, Pearl Magic, M-Net and SuperSport.
Here is the official opening evening in photos:
The menu of the gala dinner was prepared by chef Marco from the InterContinental Lusaka hotel in Zambia. His selection was inspired by dishes from across the Southern Africa region.
Guests dined on entrees that included mixed Zambia salad, Chikanda salad and Chillie papaya salad.
The main course consisted out of Namibian kapana, Mozambican chicken peri-peri, whole bream "Zambian style", pasta salad with mixed vegetables, buttered and herbed mixed vegetables, roast potato wedges with rosemary, and steamed rice.
Dessert was a selection of delectable sweets, cakes and tarts. The dinner was a "dinner-and-a-show" with dishes that were served as platters throughout the speeches and performances.
