RESOURCES
Everything SA filmmakers need | funding, competitions, training and events. Updated every Monday.
South African International Film Festival
Annual SA film festival showcasing local and international short films, features, docs and music videos.
Encounters South African International Documentary Festival
South Africa's premier documentary film festival, held annually in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Jozi Film Festival
Johannesburg based film festival celebrating African and international cinema.
NFVF Short Films for People with Disabilities — Open Call
Invitation to submit proposals for short films under the theme: Fully Inclusive. Check nfvf.co.za for the current closing date.
Gauteng Film Commission — Production Incentive
The Gauteng Film Commission offers production incentives and support for film and TV productions shooting in Gauteng. Visit gautengfilm.org.za for current open calls.
Western Cape Film — Production Support Fund
Western Cape Film offers production support and incentives for projects shooting in the Western Cape. Visit wcfilm.co.za for current opportunities.
KZN Film Commission — Opportunities
The KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission supports film and TV productions in KZN with funding, incentives and location support. Based in Durban.
British Council — SA/UK Film Co-production Grants
The British Council periodically offers co-production and development grants for South African and UK film collaborations. Check britishcouncil.org.za for current open calls.
NEFTI Short Film Competition — Durban FilmMart
Guerrilla filmmaking challenge — shoot a 6-minute fiction short in a few days during DFM. Three finalist teams each receive $1,500 and access to a Panavision production kit.
Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) — Open Submissions
SA's premier film festival accepts short films under 60 minutes, open to all countries. Films must be SA premieres completed after Jan 1 of submission year. Early bird January, regular deadline February annually.
SA Independent Film Festival — Open Submissions
Cape Town-based indie genre film festival. Submissions open December each year via FilmFreeway. Covers shorts, features, animation, documentary and music videos.
19th Annual SAFTAs — Discretionary Award Nominations
South African Film and Television Awards — the industry's premier annual awards. Nominations open for the 19th annual ceremony.
Jozi Film Festival — Open Submissions
Johannesburg's dedicated film festival celebrating local and international cinema. Open submissions for short films, features and documentaries. Annual event based in Joburg.
Cape Town International Film Market & Festival (CTIFMF)
Cape Town's premier film market and festival. Annual event covering shorts, features, documentaries and animation. Submissions open via FilmFreeway.
Encounters SA International Documentary Festival
South Africa's premier documentary film festival, screening in Cape Town and Johannesburg annually. Open submissions for documentary short and feature films.
NFVF Production & Development Funding — Tier 3 (First-Time Filmmakers)
Short film funding specifically for first-time filmmakers from disadvantaged backgrounds. Also covers animation, TV pilots, web series and feature development. Rolling calls — check nfvf.co.za for current cycle.
MultiChoice Talent Factory — 12-Month Training Programme
Fully funded 12-month training covering screenwriting, editing, producing and directing. Students develop feature films for MultiChoice channels and Showmax. 300+ graduates produced across Africa since 2018.
Netflix / Gauteng Film Commission Training Programme
Year-long paid placements embedded in Netflix's SA production partners — Burnt Onion, Quizzical Pictures, The Refinery and others. Mentored on active productions with specialist workshops. Watch gautengfilm.org.za for next intake.
NFVF Bursaries — Film & Television Studies
Fully funded bursary covering tuition, meals, accommodation and study tools for students studying film, TV and media disciplines. Prioritises students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
NFVF Youth Filmmaker Project
Targets previously disadvantaged youth to develop, write and direct their own 23-minute debut short films as industry calling cards, in partnership with SABC.
Talents Durban — Berlinale Talents Africa
Official African satellite of Berlinale Talents. Africa's premier development platform for emerging film professionals. 8-week online mentorship + 4-day in-person event at Durban FilmMart. Annual, July.
Berlinale Talents — Annual Talent Development Programme
One of the world's most prestigious talent development programmes. Open to filmmakers, producers, screenwriters and editors internationally. SA filmmakers have been selected in past years. Applications open annually around October.
Sundance Screenwriters Lab — International Applications
Sundance Institute's prestigious Screenwriters Lab is open to international applicants including SA writers. Intensive lab with working screenwriters and directors. Applications open annually.
IDFA Academy — Documentary Filmmakers
The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Academy is open to emerging documentary filmmakers internationally. Annual programme during IDFA in November.
Durban FilmMart (DFM) 2026
Africa's premier film market. Annual event in Durban for producers, funders, distributors and emerging filmmakers. DFM 2026 runs October 9–12.
SAFTAs — South African Film & Television Awards
The industry's premier annual awards night recognising excellence across SA film and TV. Annual ceremony.
Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026
SA's premier film festival. Annual event in Durban, July–August. Screening SA and international films across all genres.
Backstage SA — Actor Casting Calls
Backstage SA lists open casting calls for film, TV and theatre productions across South Africa. Updated regularly with new audition opportunities for actors.
NFVF Festival & Market Attendance Grant
Up to R50,000 for international festival attendance, R20,000 for local. Covers screenings, pitching, workshops and competitions. Rolling monthly calls — check nfvf.co.za for current window.
NFVF Micro-Budget Film Projects 2026 — Open Call
NFVF invitation to submit proposals for micro-budget film projects 2026. Visit nfvf.co.za for full criteria and submission requirements.
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