Filmmakers and visual storytellers in Ghana and four other African countries have until 15 November 2026 to apply for a major new training and funding opportunity backed by actor Sir Idris Elba and Google. The free programme, titled From Script to Screen with AI, is designed to equip emerging creators with artificial intelligence tools and guide selected projects all the way to completed films.

The initiative is run by Akuna Learning, the education arm of The Akuna Group, which is chaired by Elba. It is delivered in partnership with Google and supported by US$1 million in funding from Google.org. The curriculum has been developed by Curious Refuge, a specialist AI filmmaking education company. Applications are open to residents of Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Africa who are aged 18 or older.

Participants will begin with a 12-week online academy scheduled to run from February to April 2027. All selected creators will first complete foundational training in AI-assisted filmmaking. They will then specialise in one of five pathways: fiction (narrative and scripted storytelling), documentary (factual and real-world stories), animation (motion design and visual world-building), advertising (branded content and commercial campaigns), or screenwriting (script development and structure).

About the Programme

The full programme stretches across approximately 50 weeks. After the academy, graduates can submit one-page film concepts. Shortlisted applicants will form teams, receive four weeks of mentorship from industry professionals, and pitch their projects to panels that include representatives from Akuna, Google and the wider film sector.

Selected teams will receive production funding. The finished films are expected to be showcased at events and festivals in October 2027.

Importantly, creators will retain full ownership and intellectual property rights over all work produced during the programme. Neither Akuna Learning nor its partners will claim ownership of the content.

No previous experience with artificial intelligence is required. Applicants do not need a formal film-school background. However, they must submit an existing portfolio of creative work that demonstrates talent and commitment. Eligible applicants include filmmakers, screenwriters, photographers, animators, designers, editors, digital content creators and visual artists.

They must also have reliable access to a laptop, stable internet and consistent electricity throughout the programme, and be available to participate fully in the academy and subsequent stages if selected.

Elba has described the initiative as focused on access and education. “For me, this is about learning. This is about access to courses that help educate creators across the continent to tell their stories,” he said.

“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.”
Idris Elba, Actor

Khaled Gad, chief executive of The Akuna Group, emphasised the programme’s practical pathway from training to finished 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,” he said.

“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.”
Khaled Gad, CEO of the Akuna Group

Relevance of the Programme

The programme arrives at a time of growing interest in generative AI tools across creative industries worldwide. For African filmmakers, the combination of free high-quality training, structured mentorship and potential production funding represents a significant opportunity to experiment with new technologies while retaining creative control. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Applications opened on 26 October 2026 and must be submitted online via the official Akuna Learning website by the 15 November deadline. Successful applicants for the first cohort will be notified in the following weeks, with the academy beginning in early 2027.

For Ghanaian creators and their counterparts in the other four participating countries, the programme offers a clear route from idea to screen. Those interested in using artificial intelligence to expand their storytelling are being urged to prepare their portfolios and apply before the closing date.