Akuna Learning, part of The Akuna Group chaired by Sir Idris Elba, has opened applications for a free artificial intelligence filmmaking programme targeting aspiring and emerging creators in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
The programme, From Script to Screen with AI, is being delivered in collaboration with Google, supported by US$1 million in funding from Google.org and a curriculum developed by Curious Refuge. It aims to equip African creators with skills to use AI tools throughout filmmaking, from story development and scriptwriting to producing completed films.
Applications opened on 26 October 2026 and close on 15 November 2026. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in one of the five participating countries. Selected participants will attend the programme free of charge.
The initiative is designed to connect training and mentorship with production funding, giving creators a pathway from initial learning to completed films.
Akuna Group Chairman Sir Idris Elba said the programme aims to improve access to education and resources that enable African creators to tell their stories. He added that selected projects would receive production funding while creators retain control of their work.
The programme will run for 50 weeks, beginning with a 12-week online academy from February to April 2027. Participants will receive foundational training in AI filmmaking before progressing to mentorship, project development and pitching.
After completing the academy, graduates will be invited to submit one-page film ideas. Selected applicants will build teams and receive four weeks of mentoring from industry professionals and subject experts before pitching their projects to panels representing Akuna, Google and the wider film industry.
Projects selected for funding will move into production, with creative and technical support provided through October 2027. Completed films are expected to be showcased at festivals and other events that month.
Participants can specialise in fiction, documentary, animation, advertising or screenwriting after completing the foundational course. The programme is open to filmmakers, photographers, designers, editors, digital content creators and visual artists.
The Akuna Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Khaled Gad, said the initiative is intended to connect skills development with practical opportunities to produce and distribute creative work. Applicants do not need a film school background or previous AI experience, but must submit existing creative work demonstrating their abilities and commitment.
Applicants must have access to a laptop, reliable internet connectivity and consistent electricity. They must also commit to the full 12-week academy and subsequent stages if selected to progress. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Akuna Learning says creators will retain control of their work, with the programme and its partners making no claim to ownership rights.
The initiative comes as AI tools create new possibilities in filmmaking, including script development, animation and visual effects. By combining training, mentorship and potential production funding, the programme aims to help emerging African creators develop ideas into finished films.
Applications are available through akunalearning.com until 15 November 2026.
