Akuna Learning launches free AI filmmaking programme for African creators

Akuna Learning, part of The Akuna Group chaired by Sir Idris Elba, has launched ‘From Script to Screen with AI’, a free filmmaking programme designed for creators in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Supported by $1 million in funding from Google, the initiative aims to provide aspiring filmmakers with skills in AI-assisted storytelling.

The programme features a curriculum developed by Curious Refuge. Selected participants will undergo a 12-week online academy from February to April 2027, covering foundational AI filmmaking before specializing in one of five pathways: fiction, documentary, animation, advertising, or screenwriting.

Following the training, graduates will receive mentorship. Shortlisted teams will pitch projects to panels from Akuna, Google, and the film industry, with selected projects receiving funding for production between July and October 2027. The completed works are scheduled to be showcased in October 2027. Participants retain full ownership rights to their work.