KUALA LUMPUR: Africa has loads of talent, and American video streaming giant Netflix is going all out to prove it.
AFP reported today that Netflix is now teaming up with the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to search for young filmmakers all around Africa, and explore the continent's rich tradition of folktales for future creative content.
Netflix's new project, African Folktales, Reimagined is a hunt for six young directors to make a short film which is scheduled to be screened next year.
Each director will get a US$75,000 (RM311,400) budget for the film and US$25,000 (RM104,000) for themselves.
Netflix head of original content and acquisitions in Africa Ben Amadasun said: "This initiative aims to seek out new talents and great folk tales which are a very important part of our heritage and culture in Africa."
The US company has had considerable success picking up shows from around the world and giving them a global audience — most recently with the South Korean hit Squid Game.
It has already provided scholarships and pandemic relief funds in South Africa and Nigeria.
Unesco said that their new initiative was motivated by the desire to preserve certain traditions in danger of being forgotten as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to prevent cultural gatherings.
Young filmmakers aged 18 to 35 can pitch ideas for the competition until Nov 14.