Idris Elba's Akuna Group has partnered with Google to launch a free artificial intelligence (AI) filmmaking programme for African creatives in five countries, including Ghana. The initiative, titled "From Script to Screen with AI," aims to equip aspiring and emerging filmmakers with skills in AI-assisted storytelling, alongside mentorship and film production opportunities. Applications opened on October 26, 2026, and will close on November 15, 2026.
The programme is supported by $1 million in funding from Google.org and was developed in partnership with AI filmmaking training company Curious Refuge. It is open to eligible applicants in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Participants will undergo a 12-week online academy from February to April 2027, covering the fundamentals of AI filmmaking before choosing a specialist area.
The available pathways for participants are fiction, documentary, animation, advertising, and screenwriting, allowing them to develop their skills across different aspects of visual storytelling. Following the training, graduates will be invited to submit one-page film ideas. Those shortlisted will form teams and receive four weeks of mentorship from industry professionals and subject experts before pitching their projects to panels comprising representatives from Akuna, Google, and the wider film industry.
Selected teams will receive funding to produce their films between July and October 2027, with the completed projects scheduled to be showcased in October 2027. Sir Idris Elba, chairman of The Akuna Group, said the initiative was intended to widen access to training and enable African creators to tell their own stories. He emphasized that the programme is about learning and access to courses that help educate creators across the continent.
Khaled Gad, chief executive officer of The Akuna Group, said the programme was designed to take participants beyond training and provide a pathway towards producing finished films. He noted that 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.
The programme targets a broad range of visual storytellers, including filmmakers, screenwriters, animators, digital content creators, photographers, designers, editors, and visual artists. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, live in one of the five participating countries, and have access to a laptop, reliable internet, and consistent electricity. They must also be available for the full 12-week academy and subsequent stages if selected to progress.
No film school qualification or previous AI experience is required, but applicants must submit existing creative work that demonstrates their talent and commitment. Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications are free, and successful applicants will not pay to participate. Creators will also retain control of their work, with neither the programme nor its partners claiming ownership rights over the films produced.
Key points
- The programme is open to eligible applicants in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa.
- Participants will undergo a 12-week online academy covering the fundamentals of AI filmmaking.
- Selected teams will receive funding to produce their films between July and October 2027.
