Akuna Learning, the training arm of the Akuna Group chaired by actor Idris Elba, unveiled a programme called "From Script to Screen with AI" on 26 October. It is funded with $1 million from Google.org, and its curriculum was designed by Curious Refuge, a company focused on AI-assisted filmmaking.
The scheme is aimed at people aged 18 or over who live in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone or South Africa. No film school background or prior AI experience is needed, but applicants must show existing creative work, even if it was made on a small budget, and need a laptop, a reliable internet connection and a steady power supply. Directors, screenwriters, animators, editors, photographers and content creators can all apply, and women are especially encouraged. Both the training and the application are free.
The journey lasts about 50 weeks. It opens with a 12-week online academy from February to April 2027, with a choice of specialisation: fiction, documentary, animation, advertising or screenwriting. Graduates then submit a one-page film idea; shortlisted projects are developed in teams during a four-week mentorship and pitched to panels made up of Akuna, Google and industry representatives. Funded films will be produced between July and October 2027 and showcased in October 2027. Not every participant will receive production money.
The organisers say creators keep control of their work. Applications are made through the Akuna Learning website until 15 November 2026.
