Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two feature films will be premiered this weekend exclusively on the Africa Magic Showcase channel 151 and Africa Magic Urban channel 153 by the students of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF).
The two pieces of art titled Grown and Her Dark Past are the final projects of the MTF Class of 2023 students, a statement from the organisation said.
The MTF is a leading film school in West Africa for young, talented and passionate filmmakers. It was established by the media platform to grow the region’s creative industry.
Grown premieres on Africa Magic Showcase at 8.30 pm on Saturday, March 2, and Africa Magic Urban at 8 pm on Saturday, March 9, while Her Dark Past premieres on Africa Magic Showcase at 8.30 pm on Sunday, March 3 and on Africa Magic Urban at 8 pm on Sunday, March 10.
“We are excited to showcase the works of these truly talented individuals. These films, Her Dark Past and Grown, are not just cinematic experiences; they are the culmination of hard work, dedication, and creativity from the MTF Class of 2023.
“I am immensely proud of the talent and storytelling prowess demonstrated by these young filmmakers and thrilled that Africa Magic will have the opportunity to bring these authentic African stories to our audience across Africa.
“I urge our customers to catch the premiere of these authentic stories this weekend,” the Executive Head of Content & West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, Ms Busola Tejumola, said.
Also commenting, MTF West Africa Academy Director, Ms Atinuke Ngozi Babatunde, said, “Her Dark Past and Grown are two films that beautifully capture the pressures of young people living in this social media age, teaching them to relish their youth, be true to themselves and rely on the unwavering support of those who love them beyond the façade of social media.
“They are authentic African stories, told by Africans for Africa and we are proud to bring them to audiences across Africa this March.
“Telling well-crafted stories and creating films of good quality, are the hallmarks of the one year these talented young filmmakers spend at the MultiChoice Talent Factory.
“The whole curriculum is designed to ensure that every student who goes through the programme graduates as a solid filmmaker who understands the art and business of filmmaking.
“For the class of 2023, these films were their opportunity to put all their learning into practice and I am super proud of what they have created and can’t wait for the rest of Africa to enjoy the magic as well.”
Set in the 1990’s, Grown is a fantasy drama that explores the themes of adulthood, motherhood, love, fear and magic.
It tells the story of an over-pampered teenager who resents her mother, wishes she was an adult and wakes up to a rude shock one morning as a grown woman with kids.
She experiences the realities of growing up and asks herself “Is adulthood a scam?” and begins a fight to become young again.
The film was written by Nosa Isibor and Boakye D. Alpha and was directed by Ola Jegede and Empress Allen, with Desmond Ebuwa Ekunwe and Nosa Isibor as the producers and Efe Irele, Yemi Cregx, Bobby Ekpe, Najite Dede and Sarah Obiekwe, among others as the casts.
In Her Dark Past, the life of an uber-successful social media influencer and life coach starts to crumble when the child she left for dead resurfaces years later, giving way to a complex spiral of drama that imperils her seemingly perfect life and unearths the trauma she fights daily to bury.
This was directed by Oluwatobi Deborah Ahmed and Samuel Oluwasegun Ogundeyi and produced by Elvis Damptey and Adeniran Wuraola, starring Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Daniel Etim Effiong, Iremide Adeoye, Ego Ihenacho and Fadekemi Olumide-Aluko, among others.
