New Digital Creator Africa Academy Targets Global Vertical Video Market with Microdrama Training

The Digital Creator Africa Academy for Microdrama (DCAA) has officially launched with a mandate to position African storytellers at the forefront of the rapidly expanding global vertical video industry.

The new academy aims to train 300 filmmakers, writers, videographers, and actors to produce high-quality microdrama content tailored for mobile-first streaming platforms.

Co-founded by Pan-African creative strategist Ifeoma “Oma” Areh and media innovator Elijah Affi, DCAA is structured as a career accelerator rather than a conventional film school.

Its focus is on helping experienced creative professionals pivot from traditional horizontal filmmaking formats to short-form vertical storytelling designed for global distribution and monetisation.

The vertical video economy is currently valued at more than $26 billion worldwide, driven by the growth of mobile viewing and short episodic content platforms.

According to the founders, the Academy was established to close a critical skills and market-access gap.

While African creators have achieved strong visibility on open platforms such as YouTube and social media, there has been limited penetration into premium vertical drama platforms such as ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortMax, where microdrama formats are generating significant revenues.

DCAA’s launch follows months of groundwork across the continent. Since September 2025, the Academy has conducted an educational roadshow across major film and content markets, including the Soweto International Film Festival, The Kingdom Film Festival, and the Africa Creative Market.

The outreach programme introduced creatives to the commercial potential and technical requirements of vertical storytelling, while also identifying candidates for the inaugural cohort.

Organisers say the initiative has already generated hundreds of applications from interested professionals.

Speaking at the launch, Co-Founder Ifeoma “Oma” Areh said the Academy is focused on scaling African storytelling for global competitiveness.

She noted that microdrama requires not only creative talent but also a distinct understanding of pacing, structure, and audience retention techniques suited to short vertical episodes.

She added that the programme is designed to equip participants with both creative and business capabilities needed to operate in international markets.

The Academy’s curriculum combines African narrative strengths with production frameworks drawn from more mature microdrama industries in China, India, and Western streaming sectors.

Faculty members include practitioners from established vertical content ecosystems who will provide practical and market-driven instruction.

Artificial intelligence is also a core component of the training model. DCAA’s AI filmmaking stream is designed to help creators use emerging tools to accelerate workflows, enhance visuals, and reduce production costs and timelines.

Organisers estimate that effective AI integration could cut production time and expenses by up to 70 percent for independent teams, making studio-grade output more accessible.

The three-week intensive programme is offered free to selected participants and is organised into six specialised tracks: scriptwriting, directing, production, editing, AI filmmaking, and acting.

Each stream is tailored to the demands of microdrama production, particularly the 90-second vertical episode format common on leading platforms.

Training will be delivered using a studio-unit model in which participants work in teams and graduate as fully functional production groups.

The Academy’s launch is backed by several industry partners, including Ingene Studios, Africa Creative Market, TechMedia Foundation, Digital Native Africa, Fourth Mainland, and WildPepper Studios.

Applications are open to qualified creatives from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and members of the African diaspora.

Organisers say the long-term goal is to build a sustainable pipeline of African microdrama content and talent capable of competing, and leading, in the global vertical streaming marketplace.