MultiChoice Talent Factory alumni moving into the business of decision making
The African creative industry is evolving, and increasingly, the people who once stood behind the camera are finding themselves in rooms where decisions about the future of the industry are made. MultiChoice Talent Factory alumni are increasingly stepping into these spaces, taking on roles that influence the future of African film and television. This was brought into focus at FAME Week Africa, where the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) made its debut at the industry gathering through a panel discussion that explored the evolving journeys of African filmmakers and the growing role of creative professionals beyond production.
Local films like Lekompo spent a week at number one on Catch Up. The film came through Extended Cut, a MTF initiative that helps eligible alumni and small production companies access production opportunities. It sits alongside titles including Hha! Agnes, Aunties and Mashaya, offering a glimpse of the work being made possible through the initiative. Behind these productions is a longer-term investment in creative talent. For years, MTF has trained young filmmakers, connected them with industry professionals and helped them gain practical experience. Some alumni go on to build production companies or work across film and television. Others progress into positions where they help decide which stories get made.
Nwabisa Binase, Group Programme Manager of MTF works to build that route. Sibonelo Dlamini, an alumnus of the programme and now a Junior Commissioning Editor at MultiChoice Group, a CANAL + company, offers an example of where it can lead. Binase’s brief is to prepare participants for the realities of the industry. That involves masterclasses, mentorship and experience on professional productions, with participants developing skills across scripting, directing, producing, cinematography and editing. They are also exposed to the business side of the industry, where creative ambition has to meet budgets, production demands and the practical work of getting a project made.
MultiChoice Talent Factory alumni network has continued to connect graduates with people and opportunities across the continent and the industry, while Extended Cut provides a further route for eligible alumni and small production companies to access production work. The aim here is to help creatives build on their training, gain experience and develop the capacity to produce work through their own businesses.
For Binase, “The goal is to make the interns employable and make them push boundaries so that when they walk out of the programme, they walk out resilient and persistent whether the circumstances agree or not.” MTF’s first decade in South Africa has seen more than 140 alumni contribute to the
local film and television industry, with graduates moving into creative, leadership and entrepreneurial roles, while also having recorded 15 production companies established by alumni.
There are visible markers of that progress. Alex Xolo won a SAFTA for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting for television drama Law, Love & Betrayal, while
Thembalethu Mfebe won a SAFTA for Best Achievement in Directing for a telenovela for Youngins. Their achievements reflected at the 2026 SAFTAs indicated the range of roles MTF alumni can pursue as they build careers in the industry. Sibonelo Dlamini’s path takes that progression into commissioning. An alumnus of MTF’s Class of 2018, he moved from learning about production to working in a role where creative ideas are considered for their potential to become television projects. His MultiChoice Talent Factory experience exposed him to the demands of professional production, from meeting deadlines and working as part of a team to understanding the stages involved in taking content from an idea to the screen. Mentorship and access to experienced industry professionals also helped him build the confidence to pitch ideas and work with senior colleagues.
“I found the journey at MTF quite intense, but it was worth it, it was not only tough, it was also a lesson. I received a tremendous amount of support from my circle of mentors and that reflects in my work today”, said Dlamini. Now, when new ideas come across the desk, that experience informs how he
assesses them. The idea itself is only part of the picture. The creator’s voice, perspective and potential to grow also matter, alongside the question of whether the story can connect with its intended audience while entertaining viewers. “Working with the interns now and throughout the years is such a full circle moment for me as I now get to assist and commission their work, offering them a shot to being real life creatives,” he added.
That perspective is important in an industry looking to bring more local stories to screen and build a stronger pipeline of people who can make them. Commissioning is not simply about selecting projects. It also involves recognising creative potential and helping ideas move towards production. Dlamini wants aspiring creators to have a clearer path from pitching an idea to seeing it made. His own progression means he can contribute to that process while helping create opportunities for other talent to develop. In time, those creators may also move into positions where they can commission work and support the next generation.
Together, Binase and Dlamini’s roles illustrate MultiChoice Talent Factory’s longer-term ambition to develop not only skilled filmmakers, but also the producers, business owners and decision makers who will shape the future of African film and television.
