The Akuna Group, chaired by actor and producer Sir Idris Elba, has launched an initiative aimed at training emerging visual storytellers in artificial intelligence filmmaking across five African countries. Titled From Script to Screen with AI, the programme is delivered through Akuna Learning in collaboration with Google, backed by US$1 million in funding from Google.org, and features a curriculum developed by Curious Refuge.
Applications for the free initiative opened on October 26 and will remain open until November 15, 2026. To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone or South Africa. The programme is designed to provide selected participants with comprehensive training, mentorship and production funding, creating a structured pathway from initial learning to completed films.
“For me, this is about learning. This is about access to courses that help educate creators across the continent to tell their stories,” Sir Idris Elba said. He emphasized that selected projects will receive production funding while creators retain full control of their work, expressing anticipation for how the initiative will foster employment, self-momentum and shape the narrative of Africa.
The initiative will span 50 weeks, commencing with a foundational 12-week online academy scheduled to run from February to April 2027. During this initial phase, participants will learn how to apply artificial intelligence tools to storytelling, script development, and finished film production. Following the academy, participants can specialize in fiction, documentary, animation, advertising or screenwriting.
The programme welcomes a broad range of visual creators, including filmmakers, photographers, designers, editors, digital content creators and visual artists. Organizers note that applicants do not require a film school background or prior experience with artificial intelligence tools. However, candidates must submit existing creative work to demonstrate their ability and commitment, along with having access to a laptop, reliable internet connectivity and consistent electricity throughout the duration of the curriculum.
Khaled Gad, Chief Executive Officer of The Akuna Group, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the project. Training on its own does not build an industry, Gad explained, adding that creators need a route from the classroom to the screen that guides them from their first application to a finished, funded film on the same standard across all participating countries.
Upon graduation from the initial academy, participants will be invited to submit one-page film ideas. Successful candidates will form teams and receive four weeks of mentoring from industry professionals and subject experts before pitching their concepts to panels representing Akuna, Google and the broader film industry. Projects chosen for funding will then advance into production, receiving both creative and technical support through October 2027. Finished works are slated to be showcased at film festivals and public screenings.
Organizers have confirmed that participants will retain all intellectual property rights to their work, with the programme and its partners making no ownership claims. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications and further details are available through the Akuna Learning website.
