Africa No Filter (ANF), an organization dedicated to changing the narrative about Africa, and Meta have announced a partnership to launch the “Africa of the Future: Telling Stories, Building Worlds” program, which aims to stimulate the use of virtual reality in storytelling in Africa.
The program will provide grants and mentorship to help augmented reality storytellers develop new and compelling content about Africa. “Africa of the future: telling stories, building worlds”, is part of Meta’s desire to promote immersive technologies and joins Africa No Filter’s investments in innovative storytelling that changes negative stereotypes about Africa.
Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter, said, “Virtual reality has the potential to take storytelling to another level. In this new metaverse, audiences don’t just watch a story unfold, they experience it. This is an opportunity for African content creators to push the limits of their creativity and innovation. ”
Africa No Filter and Meta are inviting extended reality storytellers to participate in the program to receive funding of up to $ 30,000. Applicants should be of African descent and live on the continent, be over the age of 18, have experience creating extended reality content and have a portfolio of work demonstrating their creativity and innovation.
They should also show how the proposed project will tell an exciting African story that will change stereotypical narratives on the continent. Projects can use 360 video, virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality.
The program is open to organizations and individuals.
Working with Electric South and Imisi 3D, attendees will also benefit from ongoing mentoring, production support, and opportunities to kick off their projects at virtual events or in person, including during the Creators Lab. of Electric South to be held in February 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Sherry Dzinoreva, Meta’s Director of Public Policy Programs for Africa, Middle East and Turkey, said: “We are delighted to partner with ANF to launch a fund that brings together the best of the African tech ecosystem. to showcase the innovations of 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 current potential. I’m more proud that Africa is helping shape the metaverse experience from the start. ”
Applications will close on January 7, 2022 at 6 p.m. GMT. The program will run from February 13 to August 13, 2022. Participants must be available on these dates. The proposed project must also be completed within six months.
