MultiChoice unveils regional masterclasses for filmmakers

The MultiChoice Talent Factory has rolled out a series of 13 regional masterclasses for film and television practitioners across Nigeria as it marks eight years of investing in the country’s creative industry.

In a statement, the organisers said the masterclasses, which they are holding in partnership with film festivals, guilds and other industry bodies across different regions, will equip practitioners with practical knowledge on current developments and opportunities in the industry.

MTF held the first masterclass, tagged the International Sales and Distribution Executive Masterclass, on 24 August, in partnership with the Nigerian International Film Summit. The session, themed ‘From Script to Market: The Future of Cinema in Africa,’ brought together filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals to discuss how films move from production to audiences and markets.

The President/Chief Executive Officer of KOMWORLD Cinemas and Studio KOM Film Production and Distribution, Kene Mkparu; a cinema expert and thought leader, Funmi Onuma; and the Founder of the Nigerian International Film Summit, Ijeoma Onah, featured as panellists at the masterclass. They examined international sales, distribution and the commercial considerations involved in taking African films to wider markets.

The Academy Director of MTF, Akaoma Onyeonoru, said understanding the business side of filmmaking was as important as the creative process.

“It is one thing to make a movie and another thing for that movie to travel for the world to see,” Onyeonoru said.

She added that the ability of African stories to travel would determine how the continent tells and controls its own narratives, noting that effective distribution remains critical to ensuring African films reach audiences beyond their immediate markets.

MTF held the second masterclass, the Africa Microdrama Summit, on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, with the theme ‘The Future of Africa Storytelling: Powering Africa’s Mobile-First Entertainment Economy.’ The session focused on the growth of short-form scripted content and changing audience consumption habits.

The Executive Head, Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice Nigeria, Atinuke Babatunde; the Founder of the Digital Creator Africa Academy for Microdrama, Ifeoma Areh; the Co-Founder of Women in the Arts, Brenda Fashugba; the Country Manager of Digital Virgo, Samira Hamidi; and the Co-Founder of the Digital Creator Africa Academy, Elija Afi, spoke on the panel. They examined the rise of microdrama, changing audience consumption patterns and the opportunities the format offers African storytellers.

Babatunde said shorter attention spans were shaping how audiences engage with content, creating room for formats that can capture and sustain viewers quickly.

“People are becoming increasingly impatient, and their attention spans are shorter, so content that is bingeable tends to do well. Nigerians want to know what is happening from the moment they start watching, so the story has to pull you in quickly and keep you engaged. For us as an industry, the opportunity is to understand these changing consumption habits and think about how we can create stories that work for the way audiences are consuming content today,” Babatunde said.

She also said microdrama could find a place on established platforms such as Africa Magic, noting that viable productions could create additional programming opportunities.

MTF said the masterclass series will continue across other parts of the country, including Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Abia, Delta, Rivers, Abuja and Kano states. Partners for the programme include the Wole Soyinka Cultural Centre, Abeokuta; the Ibadan International Film Festival; the Pan-Atlantic University International Students’ Film Festival; the Twin City International Film Festival; the Rivers International Film Festival; and the Kano Indigenous Languages Film Festival.