Akuna Group Launches Free AI Filmmaking Program

Akuna Learning, part of The Akuna Group which is 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, with US$1 million in funding from Google.org and a curriculum developed by Curious Refuge. It aims to equip African creators with the skills to use AI tools in filmmaking, from developing stories and scripts to producing finished films. Applications opened on October 26 and close on November 15, 2026. The programme is free to apply for, and selected participants will attend without charge. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in one of the five participating countries.

The Akuna Group says the initiative is designed to give creators access to training, mentorship and production funding, with a 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. Through Akuna Learning, we’re partnering with Google and Curious Refuge on ‘From Script to Screen with AI’, a remarkable training and mentorship programme teaching African filmmakers to use AI tools. Selected projects will receive production funding, and creators will retain control of their work. I’m looking forward to seeing the stories they choose, and how the education leads to employment and self-momentum, but helps shape the narrative of Africa,” Sir Idris Elba, Chairman of The Akuna Group, said.

The programme will run for 50 weeks, beginning with a 12-week online academy from February to April 2027. Participants will receive training in AI filmmaking before progressing to mentorship, project development and pitching. Teams whose projects are selected for funding will produce films scheduled to be showcased in October 2027.

Participants will be able to specialise in fiction, documentary, animation, advertising or screenwriting after completing the foundational course. The programme is open to a broad range of visual storytellers, including filmmakers, photographers, designers, editors, digital content creators and visual artists.

Following the academy, graduates will be invited to submit one-page film ideas. Selected idea owners will build teams and receive four weeks of mentoring from industry professionals and subject experts before pitching their projects to panels drawn from Akuna, Google and the wider film industry. Projects selected for funding will then move into production, with creative and technical support provided through October 2027. The finished films are expected to be presented at festivals and showcases.

Khaled Gad, Chief Executive Officer of The Akuna Group, said the programme is intended to connect skills development with opportunities to produce and distribute creative work.

“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. It opens on the same day and runs to the same standard in all five countries. You do not need a film school background or any experience with AI to apply. You need finished work that shows what you can do, and your application in by 15 November,” Gad said.

The initiative comes as AI tools create new possibilities for film production, including script development, animation and visual effects. For emerging filmmakers, these technologies may provide additional ways to develop projects, although access to training, production resources and distribution remains important in turning creative ideas into completed work.

Akuna Learning says applicants do not need prior AI experience, a film school qualification or a specified number of years in the industry. However, they must submit existing creative work that demonstrates their ability and commitment, even if the work is modest.

Applicants must have access to a laptop, reliable internet connectivity and consistent electricity throughout the programme. They must also commit to the full 12-week academy and subsequent stages if selected to progress. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. The organisers say creators will retain control of their work, with the programme and its partners making no claim to ownership rights.

Applications are available through the Akuna Learning website at akunalearning.com until November 15, 2026.