African filmmakers and other creative professionals can apply for a new free artificial intelligence filmmaking programme backed by actor and filmmaker Idris Elba, with selected participants eligible for funding to produce their films.
The programme, From Script to Screen with AI, launched by The Akuna Group through its education platform, Akuna Learning, in collaboration with Google, is open to eligible applicants in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
Applications opened on October 26 and close on November 15, 2026. Successful applicants will receive free training, mentorship and an opportunity to pitch film projects for production funding, creating a pathway from skills development to commercial and professional opportunities in the creative industry.
The initiative comes as artificial intelligence creates new possibilities for film production while raising questions about access to technology, skills development and the ability of African creators to compete in global content markets.
From training to funded productions
The programme will run for about 50 weeks, beginning with a 12-week online academy from February to April 2027. Its curriculum was developed by Curious Refuge, an organisation specialising in AI filmmaking education.
Participants will complete foundational training before choosing from five specialisation areas: fiction, documentary, animation, advertising and screenwriting.
Graduates will then submit one-page film concepts. Shortlisted applicants will form teams and receive four weeks of mentoring before pitching their projects to panels drawn from Akuna, Google and the wider creative industry.
Projects selected for support will receive production funding and technical and creative assistance to make their films, with production expected to run from July to October 2027. Completed works are expected to be taken to festivals and showcases.
The structure is designed to address a common challenge in creative training: helping participants move beyond acquiring skills to producing finished work that can reach audiences and create professional opportunities.
“The training on its own does not build an industry,” Khaled Gad, chief executive officer of The Akuna Group, said. He described the programme as a route from the classroom to a completed, funded film.
Lowering barriers to entry
The programme is open to aspiring and emerging filmmakers, screenwriters, animators, advertisers, digital content creators, photographers, designers, editors and visual artists.
Applicants do not need previous AI experience, a film school qualification or a specified number of years in the industry. They must, however, be at least 18 years old, reside physically 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 academy and subsequent stages if selected. Applicants are expected to submit existing creative work demonstrating their talent and commitment, and women are particularly encouraged to apply.
Sir Idris Elba, chairman of The Akuna Group, said the initiative was intended to expand access to training and give African creators the tools to tell their own stories.
He said the programme would combine education, mentorship and production funding, with the broader ambition of helping creators build livelihoods and shape how Africa is represented.
Ownership and the creative economy
A key feature of the programme is that participating creators will retain control of their work. Akuna Learning and its partners will not claim ownership rights over the films produced through the initiative.
That provision is significant as African creative businesses seek to capture more value from the stories, intellectual property and content they generate.
The Akuna Group describes itself as a pan-African organisation working to connect creative talent with skills, capital, platforms and partnerships to build sustainable livelihoods and access global markets.
For Ghana’s creative sector, the programme offers an opportunity to develop AI filmmaking skills without tuition fees and potentially secure funding for completed projects. Its longer-term value will depend on how many participants progress through the selection stages, receive funding and turn their work into sustainable careers or businesses.
