Akuna Group, Google Offer African Filmmakers $1m AI Training and Production Opportunities
The Akuna Group, chaired by award-winning actor and filmmaker Sir Idris Elba, has joined forces with Google to introduce a US$1 million artificial intelligence (AI) filmmaking initiative designed to equip emerging African creatives with modern storytelling skills and opportunities to produce original films.
The programme, titled From Script to Screen with AI, will provide free training, professional mentorship and production funding to selected participants in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
The initiative is being delivered through Akuna Learning, an educational platform of The Akuna Group, in collaboration with Google, with financial support from Google.org. Its curriculum has been developed by Curious Refuge, an organisation focused on training creatives in AI-powered filmmaking.
Applications opened on 26 October 2026 and will close on 15 November 2026. Participation is free for successful applicants, with interested candidates required to submit their applications through akunalearning.com.
The 50-week initiative is structured to provide participants with a comprehensive filmmaking development experience, beginning with foundational education in artificial intelligence and progressing through specialised training, mentorship, project pitching and the production of selected films.
Under the arrangement, successful teams will receive funding to turn their creative concepts into finished films, which are expected to be showcased in October 2027.
The organisers said participants would retain full ownership and control of their intellectual property, stressing that neither the Akuna Group nor its programme partners would claim ownership rights over the films produced.
The initiative is targeted at aspiring and emerging storytellers seeking to develop their creative abilities and understand how artificial intelligence can be integrated into contemporary film production.
Participants will initially undertake a compulsory foundational course in AI filmmaking before choosing one of five specialisation areas.
These include fiction, which will focus on narrative filmmaking and scripted productions ranging from short films to series; documentary, covering factual filmmaking and real-life stories; and animation, which will explore animated storytelling, motion design and visual world-building.
The other pathways are advertising, which will concentrate on commercial content, branded storytelling and creative campaigns, and screenwriting, covering script development, dialogue, narrative structure and the transformation of written concepts into screen productions.
The programme will commence with an application and selection process running from October 2026 to January 2027. Applications will be assessed through review panels in each participating country, followed by a final selection panel considering candidates across the five markets.
Selected participants will proceed to a 12-week online training academy from February to April 2027. The training will be delivered by Curious Refuge, with weekly facilitation from Akuna Learning and physical networking and learning sessions organised in each participating country.
Participants who successfully complete the academy will receive certification.
The next phase, scheduled for April to June 2027, will focus on mentorship and project development. Graduates will be invited to submit original one-page film proposals, from which promising concepts will be shortlisted.
Owners of shortlisted ideas will then assemble production teams and participate in four weeks of mentorship involving experienced professionals and subject experts. The process is expected to help participants strengthen their concepts and develop viable production plans.
Between June and July 2027, teams whose projects receive endorsement from their mentors will present their proposals to pitching panels comprising representatives of the Akuna Group, Google and other industry stakeholders.
Projects selected at this stage will receive financial support to proceed to production.
The production phase will run from July to October 2027, during which funded teams will develop their films with access to creative and technical assistance. Completed productions will subsequently be presented at film festivals and other showcase platforms.
Speaking on the initiative, Elba said the programme was driven by the need to expand access to quality creative education and enable African storytellers to communicate their experiences and perspectives through film.
“For me, this is about learning. This is about access to courses that help educate creators across the continent to tell their stories,” he said.
The Akuna Group chairman explained that the collaboration with Google and Curious Refuge was intended to introduce African filmmakers to the possibilities of AI-assisted storytelling while providing the training and resources needed to develop their creative potential.
He said the opportunity to access production funding, professional guidance and technical training would enable participants to move beyond acquiring knowledge to creating finished productions.
Elba expressed enthusiasm about the stories participants would develop, adding that the programme could contribute to employment generation, individual economic empowerment and the development of Africa’s creative identity.
He also highlighted the importance of allowing creators to retain ownership of their work, describing the initiative as an opportunity to build creative independence and encourage African filmmakers to shape narratives about the continent.
The Chief Executive Officer of The Akuna Group, Khaled Gad, said the programme was designed to address the challenge of translating creative training into tangible industry opportunities.
“Training on its own does not build an industry. Creators need a route from the classroom to the screen, and this programme carries them all the way, from their first application to a finished, funded film,” Gad said.
He explained that the initiative would provide a uniform training and development structure across all five participating countries, ensuring that applicants had access to the same opportunities and standards.
Gad further clarified that applicants would not be required to possess formal film school qualifications or previous experience with AI technology.
Instead, candidates would be assessed on their existing creative work and demonstrated commitment to storytelling.
The programme is open to filmmakers, screenwriters, animators, advertisers, photographers, digital content creators, graphic designers, editors and other visual artists who are interested in exploring the use of artificial intelligence in creative production.
Applicants must be physically resident in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone or South Africa and must have attained the age of 18 by the time they submit their applications.
They are also required to have access to a laptop, reliable internet connectivity and consistent electricity supply throughout the programme.
Successful candidates must be available for the entire 12-week training academy between February and April 2027 and demonstrate the capacity to participate in the subsequent mentoring, pitching and production stages if selected.
Applicants are expected to provide samples of their previous creative work to demonstrate their abilities and commitment, although the organisers have indicated that even modest projects will be considered.
Women have been particularly encouraged to apply as the initiative seeks to broaden access to opportunities in the creative industry.
With the global entertainment industry increasingly exploring artificial intelligence for scriptwriting, animation, visual effects and other production processes, the programme is expected to expose African creatives to emerging technologies while helping them develop marketable skills.
Beyond technical education, the partnership seeks to connect emerging storytellers with industry professionals, funding opportunities and platforms through which their productions can reach wider audiences.
The application process is free and closes on 15 November 2026. Interested candidates can obtain further information and submit their applications through akunalearning.com.
