Idris Elba’s Akuna Group Launches Free AI Filmmaking Programme for Creators in Five African Countries
British actor Idris Elba’s Akuna Group has launched a free artificial intelligence (AI) filmmaking programme for aspiring and emerging creatives in five African countries, offering training, mentorship and opportunities to secure funding for film production.
The initiative, called From Script to Screen with AI, is being delivered through Akuna Learning in collaboration with Google, with US$1 million in funding from Google.org. Its curriculum was developed by AI filmmaking training company Curious Refuge.
The programme is open to eligible applicants in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone and South Africa. Applications opened on October 26, 2026, and will close on November 15.
Participants will begin with a 12-week online academy covering the fundamentals of AI-assisted filmmaking before choosing a specialist pathway. The available areas are fiction, documentary, animation, advertising and screenwriting.
After completing the training, participants can submit their own film ideas. Those shortlisted will receive mentorship from industry professionals and subject experts before pitching their projects to panels involving representatives from Akuna, Google and the wider film industry.
Selected teams will receive funding to produce their films between July and October 2027. The completed projects are expected to be showcased in October 2027.
Elba, chairman of The Akuna Group, said the initiative aims to expand access to creative education and give African storytellers the tools to tell their own stories. He also highlighted the programme’s potential to connect learning with employment and opportunities across the creative economy.
Akuna Group Chief Executive Officer Khaled Gad said the initiative was designed to take participants beyond classroom training by creating a pathway from learning and mentorship to producing finished films.
The programme welcomes a broad range of creatives, including filmmakers, screenwriters, animators, photographers, designers, editors, visual artists and digital content creators. Applicants do not need a film school qualification or previous experience using AI tools.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in one of the five participating countries and have access to a laptop, reliable internet and consistent electricity. They must also be able to commit to the training programme and subsequent stages if selected to advance.
Applicants are required to submit existing creative work demonstrating their talent and commitment. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
Applications and participation are free for those selected. The programme also states that creators will retain control of their work, with neither the programme nor its partners claiming ownership rights over the films produced.
Interested creatives can apply through Akuna Learning before the November 15, 2026 deadline.
Sources: Townflex | MyJoyOnline | TechAfrica
