Kenyan filmmakers and digital content creators have until November 15 to apply for a free artificial intelligence (AI) filmmaking programme offering training, mentorship and production funding for selected projects.

The programme, backed by $1 million (Sh129 million) from Google.org, will train aspiring filmmakers in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Africa on how to use AI to develop and produce films.

Dubbed From Script to Screen with AI, was launched by Akuna Learning, the education platform of The Akuna Group, chaired by British actor Idris Elba.

The programme will run for 50 weeks, taking participants through training, mentorship, pitching and film production. Selected teams will receive funding to produce their films, which are scheduled to be showcased in October 2027.

Applicants must, however, submit existing creative work demonstrating their ability and commitment.

“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,” said Akuna Group chief executive Khaled Gad,

Participants will be able to specialise in fiction, documentaries, animation, advertising or screenwriting, depending on their creative interests.

The initiative is open to filmmakers, photographers, editors, designers, animators and digital content creators. Applicants do not need previous AI experience or formal film school qualifications to participate.

However, candidates must demonstrate their creative ability by submitting existing work as part of their applications.

Chairman of The Akuna Group Idris Elba said the programme aims to expand access to training and equip African creators with the skills needed to tell their own 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,” he said.

Selected projects will receive production funding, while creators will retain control of their work, with the programme and its partners making no ownership claims.

The programme will begin with an open application and selection process running through January 2027. Review panels in each participating country will assess applications before a final panel considers candidates across the five markets.

Successful applicants will then complete the 12-week online academy, with weekly facilitation by Akuna and in-person meet-ups in each country. Participants who complete the training will receive certification.

Between April and June 2027, graduates will submit film ideas for consideration. Those shortlisted will assemble teams and receive four weeks of mentorship from industry professionals and subject experts.

The teams will pitch their projects between June and July 2027, with selected proposals receiving funding for production. Filming is scheduled to take place between July and October 2027.

The programme comes as AI tools offer filmmakers new ways to develop scripts, create visual effects and produce digital content. However, the initiative's emphasis on mentorship and production funding also seeks to bridge the gap between learning new technology and producing films for audiences.