MTF Alumni Uyioghosa Etinosa is making waves with ‘Grown’, The Storyteller Behind One of MultiChoice Talent Factory’s Standout Productions

Uyioghosa Etinosa started her journey with MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa Academy in 2023, eager to share her love for storytelling and sound, and stepping into one of the most competitive filmmaking development programmes in Africa. A year later she not only left the academy as a MTF alumna but also was the creative force behind one of the most talked about graduating productions of the academy, Grown, which has continued to spark interest in the film industry in Africa.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory is one of the most sought-after talent development programmes across all of Africa, nurturing young filmmakers in a fully-funded one-year course, APTANA programme with top academic institutions such as Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria. The academy is a blend of classroom theory and hands-on production training, equipping young creatives with the skills needed to make an impact in the booming African film and TV industry.

The programme was a momentous occasion for Etinosa. Instead of being merely a student, she developed the original story concept for Grown, a nostalgic fantasy drama that delves into the emotions of adolescents and the hidden emotional pressures that accompany adolescence, longing for adulthood. The MTF Class of 2023 developed the concept into the screenplay and production.

The movie is about an over pampered teenager who is longing for becoming an adult only to find herself as an adult with her own children. It starts as fantasy, slowly becomes an emotionally charged exploration of family, responsibility and identity and ultimately is a reminder of the importance of valuing all stages of life.

What is so special about Etinosa’s contribution is her capacity to bring a commercially appealing narrative if she placed social commentary in it. Rather than depending on showmanship, Grown’s fantasy is presented as a tool to talk about adolescent anxiety, parental relations and the psychological burden of coming of age too soon, topics that are of great interest to African viewers.

The quality of the project did not go unnoticed. Grown is the last of the many productions that MultiChoice Talent Factory Class of 2023 delivered as a feature project, and it was premiered on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Urban, showing the confidence MultiChoice had on the work done by the class of 2023. The film was subsequently nominated at the 10th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for the Best MTF Movie award, reinforcing the team’s efforts in delivering a quality production.

But for Etinosa, Grown is more than just awards. The project is in line with the very essence of MultiChoice Talent Factory, to develop talents who can tell authentic African stories with artistic integrity and commercial appeal. She was able to conceptualise and execute an idea that was ultimately aired nationwide, via MultiChoice’s television platforms, on the continent of Africa, in the process proving her creative maturity as a future industry leader.

Since the academy, Etinosa has been developing her career around story development and sound design, having used the skill she had developed in MTF to the different productions at the professional level in the film industry of Nigeria. Her work is a testament to how mentorship, real-world filmmaking experience and creative discipline can lead to works that are able to resonate with continental audiences.

In an industry that still looks for original voices to lead the way in the international marketplace, the story of Uyioghosa Etinosa from becoming a MultiChoice Talent Factory student to being the creative mind behind Grown is an inspiring tale of how the programme has helped shape his career, and his story is just getting started.