African content creators can now receive up to $30,000 in funding support, courtesy of a partnership between Africa No Filter and Meta, formerly known as Facebook.
The two organisations are collaborating to boost the use of Virtual Reality in Africa’s storytelling through the launch of an initiative called “Future Africa: Telling Stories, Building Worlds”.
Already, applications for the programme have opened and will close on January 7, 2022, at 6 pm GMT and the scheme will run from February 13 to August 13, 2022.
About the programme participants
Those who should apply, are extended reality creators of African descent, who are above 18 years and living in the continent, with a track record of XR content creation, and have a portfolio of work showing their creativity and innovation.
Participants must be available for the duration of the program.
They also need to show how the proposed project will tell an exciting African story that changes stereotypical narratives about the continent. Projects can use 360 Video, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality.
The proposed project must also be completed within six months.
Participants will also get ongoing mentorship, production support, and opportunities to launch their projects in a virtual or in-person showcase, including the Electric South’s Creators Lab held in February 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The programme is in collaboration with Electric South and Imisi 3D.
Sherry Dzinoreva, Meta’s Public Policy Programs Director, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey, said:
“We are excited to be partnering with ANF to launch a fund that brings together the best of the African tech ecosystem to showcase innovations for the future and tell positive stories about Africa.
“Meta sits at the intersection of innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and social connection, and this investment is a vote of confidence in the strength of the African tech industry and its ongoing potential.
“I am certainly proud that Africa will be helping to shape the metaverse experience from the start.”
Moky Makura, the Executive Director at Africa No Filter, Moky Makura, while speaking said:
“Virtual Reality has the potential to take storytelling to another level.
“In this new metaverse, audiences don’t just get to watch a story unfold, they get to live in it. This is an opportunity for African content creators to push the boundaries of their creativity and innovation.’
