Answers, before you ask
Is the programme really free?
Yes. There is no application fee and no tuition. The programme is fully funded by the partnership between the Akuna Group and Google.
Do I need experience with AI tools?
No. Curiosity and a willingness to learn matter far more. The curriculum begins with a shared foundation in AI filmmaking before you specialise.
Do I need a body of creative work?
Yes. You will submit one example of your best work in any creative discipline. Film and other moving image work can be up to three minutes. It does not need to be recent, long or professionally produced, and it does not need to involve AI.
Do I need a team to apply?
No. You apply to the academy as an individual, and you put forward ideas as an individual too. Teams form later, around the shortlisted ideas.
Can I choose more than one pathway?
No. You choose one preferred pathway when you apply. Your preference guides but does not guarantee placement, and the selection panel confirms the best pathway with you before the academy begins.
Is the programme online or in person?
The program is online but there will be a few opportunities to meet in person throughout the duration of the program.
How much time will it take?
Plan to commit fully to the twelve week academy, from 25th January to 18th April 2027, including live sessions, assignments and progress check ins. If your idea is shortlisted, team formation, mentorship and pitching run from 19th April to 11th July 2027, and funded teams are in production until October 2027.
How will I hear back?
Through the application portal and the email address you provided us. The final cohort is confirmed on the 14th December 2026.
What happens after the academy?
Every graduate is certified and can put forward their own one page idea. The strongest ideas are shortlisted, each shortlisted idea owner builds a team, and teams spend four weeks with mentors and subject experts preparing to pitch. Mentor endorsed teams pitch to expert panels drawn from Akuna, Google and the wider industry, a selection of projects is funded, and creators retain their IP.
How are teams formed?
Around the ideas. Each shortlisted idea owner becomes a team lead. Graduates tell us which projects they would like to join, and team leads choose their teams. Teams are built mainly from academy graduates and can bring in outside collaborators. Each team includes at least three academy graduates, including the team lead, and a screenwriter, who can be the team lead.
Will every graduate join a team?
Not necessarily, and that is by design. The programme funds teams, not individuals, and teams form around the shortlisted ideas and the people who want to make them. Use the academy to meet other creators and find the people you would like to work with. Completing the academy and earning your certificate is a success in its own right.
How many projects receive funding?
A select few. The strongest projects in each intake are funded, chosen by expert panels with Google, Akuna and industry representatives against agreed criteria. Every graduate, funded or not, leaves with certification, months of world class training, an Akuna Stage profile, the alumni network and eligibility for future opportunities. We would rather tell you the odds honestly now than surprise you at pitch stage.
Who owns the work I create?
You do. Creators retain the IP in their work throughout the programme. Funded projects sign a clear agreement before any funding moves, covering production support [and a distribution window on Google platforms], and the mentorship phase includes an IP clinic so you understand every line before you pitch.
I live outside the five countries. Can I apply?
This intake is open to residents of Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Africa only. A second intake follows a year later, so follow our channels for future announcements.