The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the Netherlands Film Fund (NFF) have established a co-development scheme called THUTHUKA. This scheme supports projects with high cinematographic quality and interest to cinema audiences in both countries, as well as to international cinema audiences.
Details:
- The annual budget of the Fund amounts as a rule up to 80.000 EUR. The NFVF will match the equivalent of 40.000 EUR in ZAR, considering currency fluctuations.
- No more than four (4) projects will be supported each year, two (2) from South Africa and two (2) from the Netherlands. Each project will receive € 40.000 (or the equivalent in ZAR). This amount includes a maximum of € 6.000 for the producer’s fee plus overhead.
- Grants are available for script development.
Individual script coaching and/or coaching in the context of workshops is an integral part of this grant.
- The goal is to write a full script and create a pitch book, and to be able to apply for production support. Receiving a THUTHUKA grant does not guarantee selection for future funding.
- Detailed regulations per Fund can be found via links at the end of this call.
- Active participation in the workshops organized by NFVF and NFF is mandatory.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applications are open to:
- Established co-production teams based in the Netherlands and South Africa.
- Applicants who are citizens of the Netherlands and South Africa.
- Established producers with a scriptwriter/director and a co-producer from the other
country attached for a feature-length (> 60 min) documentary film.
No applications without a co-producer and director from the other country will be considered.
- There are no limitations regarding style.
- Both attached producers, directors and writers must be eligible according to the criteria of the respective funds. Ineligible applicants will be informed of their disqualification after the compliance verification process.
- Projects must be feasible within the criteria of both Funds.
- Applications should be submitted in English and signed by all partners involved.
Ineligible are:
- Live recordings, TV games, talk shows, reality shows or teaching and ‘how-to’ programs to be shown directly in schools.
- Documentaries promoting tourism, “making-of”, reports, news and current affairs programs and “docu-soaps”.
- Projects including pornographic or racist material or advocating violence.
- Works of a promotional nature.
- Institutional productions to promote a specific organisation or its activities.
- Projects previously funded by Thuthuka and received development funding from both the NFF and the NFVF main funding stream.
- Companies, producers, writers or directors involved with a project currently in Thuthuka development.
- Applications with a South African writer/director in South Africa
Applications must include the following information:
- CVs of South African and Dutch producers, Dutch director(s) and, if already selected, the director.
- Motivation and vision of the team concerning the project (including needs for the project)
- Co-production agreement or Letter of commitment from the co-producers and director
- Brief project summary (maximum 5 pages).
- Treatment (maximum 15 pages).
- Outline, if available
- A Schedule for the development phase (e.g., timeline for writing, editing, research) (max 600 words).
- Development budget
- A brief synopsis not to exceed five pages*
- Recently Certified ID copy of an applicant (dated certification stamp not older than six months)*
- Company’s Registration document.
- Track record of both production companies.
- Company’s Valid Tax Clearance Certificate or Tax Clearance Status PIN Document (must be valid for one year)*
- BBBEE certificate or signed BBBEE Affidavit with a dated stamp (not older than one year).
The Parties reserve the right to require other documentation from applicants for the completion of the assessment of the project.
Project Evaluation
- Projects will be evaluated by representatives of the NFF and NFVF.
- This scheme aims to increase and encourage the development of high-quality and diverse feature-length documentaries.
- Therefore, the evaluation will focus on the creative value of the project, viability of the project,and the proposed target audience.
Timeline:
Call Open: 2 September 2026
Closing Date: 5 October 2025 at 17h00
Project Announcement and first workshops: Rotterdam, January 2027
Regulations
A complete overview of applicable regulations and conditions can be found here
For NFVF: https://www.nfvf.co.za/home/
For NFF: https://www.filmfonds.nl
Contact Information:
For Netherlands Film Fund
Ilse Ronteltap
Ezra Droog
For National Film and Video Foundation
Terrence Khumalo