The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for proposals for an Animation Slate valued at R7.5 million over 3 years. Over the past years, the NFVF has awarded slate funding to production companies with the specific objective of cultivating sustainable and viable businesses.
The initiative was developed out of best practice internationally and was rooted in the notion that when a small company is granted operating capital towards development and cornerstone financing for production over a predetermined period, a great deal of uncertainty is removed from running the business.
SLATE FUNDING OBJECTIVES
- Cultivating sustainable and viable production companies.
- Assisting production companies to identify and produce films that demonstrate audience awareness in the South African and international market.
- Finding original ways of reaching audiences nationwide.
- Increasing the marketing and export of South African film products to the global market.
- Promoting greater cooperation between production companies and distribution companies.
The slate is targeted at Tier 1 and Tier 2 Production Companies.
Tier 1 Production Companies are defined in the NFVF Funding Policy as “Experienced filmmakers who have a proven track record for developing and producing 3-5 theatrically released feature films.”
Tier 2 Production Companies are defined in the NFVF Funding Policy as “Filmmakers with experience in the film industry, but who have developed and produced either 1-2 theatrical feature films, television fiction, documentaries, 2-3 short films and/or commercials seeking to venture into feature film, animation or documentary development and production”.
Companies that will be considered must have a proven track record of producing animation content including but not limited to the following:
– Produced an animated short film;
– Produced an animated feature film;
– Produced an animated series;
– Produced animated television content; and/or
– Produced animated commercial content, etc.
Note that the above must be completed and have verifiable distribution.
Over the period of 3 years the successful slate recipient must deliver polished pitch materials for four television series and for three feature films. The animation company may collaborate with other creatives but maintain 51% of the Intellectual Property.
Year 1:
For Television Series:
Concept 1-2:
For Feature Film:
Concept 1-2:
– 1 pitch deck for each concept, which must include a compelling title page, contact details, loglines, premise, synopses, tone and style, theme, run-time, genre, target audience, character descriptions, key art, creator bios, profiles of key creatives/collaborators/partners, tentative casting and a sell sheet/leave behind
– Complete the first draft of the script
Year 2:
For Television Series:
Concepts 1-2:
– Sample scripts for each concept
– Proof of market testing/engagement/interest/response from prospective buyers, financers and co-production partners (if co-production is applicable to your project)
– Concept animation tests
Concepts 3-4:
- Pitch decks which must include a compelling title page, contact details, loglines, premise, synopses, tone and style, theme, format, genre, target audience, character descriptions, episode outlines/springboards, key art, creator bios, profiles of key creatives/collaborators/partners, tentative casting and a sell sheet/leave behind
For Feature Film:
Concepts 1-2:
– Delivery of final script. This should be crafted and polished with the inputs of an experienced story editor.
– Final character designs
– Proof of market testing/engagement/interest/response from prospective buyers, financers and co-production partners (if co-production is applicable to your project)
– Attach producer(s)/executive producer(s) to the project (if required/applicable)
– Attach a sales & distribution company to the project (if required/applicable)
– Attach a South African animation studio to the project (if required/applicable)
– Secure a budget and provisional production schedule
Concept 3:
– 1 pitch deck for 1 concept, which must include a compelling title page, contact details, loglines, premise, synopses, tone and style, theme, run-time, genre, target audience, character descriptions, key art, creator bios, profiles of key creatives/collaborators/partners, tentative casting and a sell sheet/leave behind
– Complete the first draft of the script
Year 3:
For Television Series:
- 7 – 15 minute pilot for one concept along with a final revised deck and sell sheet/leave behind
Concepts 1-2:
– Finalize a business model/finance plan for the project
– Finalize the look & feel in collaboration with attached creative partners
– Finalize all creative and technical contributors
– Finalize all talents
Concepts 3-4:
– Sample scripts for each concept
– Proof of market testing/engagement/interest/response from prospective buyers, financers and co-production partners (if co-production is applicable to your project)
– Concept animation tests
For Feature Film:
- First draft animatic with final pitch deck, character and set design for one selected concept.
Concepts 1-2:
– Finalize a business model/finance plan for the project
– Finalize the look & feel in collaboration with attached production partners
– Finalize all creative and technical contributors
– Finalize all talents
Concept 3:
– Delivery of final script. This should be crafted and polished with the inputs of an experienced story editor.
– Final character designs
– Proof of market testing/engagement/interest/response from prospective buyers, financers and co-production partners (if co-production is applicable to your project)
– Attach producer(s)/executive producer(s) to the project (if required/applicable)
– Attach a sales & distribution company to the project (if required/applicable)
– Attach a South African animation studio to the project (if required/applicable)
– Secure a budget and provisional production schedule
Note: a script editor needs to be attached to all relevant concept development documents.
BUDGET
The Slate is valued at R7.5 million over 3 years allocated as follows:
- R3 000 000.00 – for development of a minimum of 4 television concepts and 3 feature film concepts with a 25% cap for overheads; and
- R4 500 000.00 – for pilot production of 1 television concept and 1 feature film concept animatic (first draft).
WHO QUALIFIES TO APPLY?
Qualifying applications must be submitted by production companies which meet the following requirements:
- A Tier 1 or 2 Production Company as defined which is 100% South African owned and at least 51% black owned and managed;
- Valid company BBBEE
- Valid Tax Status Pin Document (Note that all applying companies will be checked for Tax Compliance Status on the SARS system. Should a company not be compliant at the time of verification, this will result in automatic disqualification)
- At least 3 (three) concepts identified for development, for which the applicant owns at least 51% of the Intellectual Property.
- A clear skills development strategy in place.
WHO DOES NOT QUALIFY?
- Past and Present NFVF Slate recipients; and
- Individuals and/or Production Companies that have at least 4 (four) active NFVF funded projects across the value chain i.e. Development, Production, Postproduction, Marketing and Distribution and Festival Funding Support.
- Production companies that have no track record of having produced animation content.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
- BBBEE, Transformation
- Quality of the proposal (e.g. concepts, business plan, target audiences / awareness of market place trends);
- Team’s expertise, capacity and experience;
- Track record of the creatives with whom the applicant intends to collaborate
- Finance Plan
- Marketing and Distribution strategy / Track record of the sales and distribution company with whom the applicant intends to collaborate
- Skills development plan
- Showreel
COMPULSORY APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must submit the following compulsory documentation:
- Applicant must submit a business plan demonstrating the Company’s strategy and plan for growth towards sustainability and viability. It must be clear how they intend to make their projects commercially viable. The business plan must include but not be limited to the following: Budget, Finance and Recoupment plan for each concept pitched at application phase;
- Marketing and Distribution Research and Strategy / Evidence of Market Research
- CVs with certified ID copies of key management and creative team;
- Proposed annual slate schedule;
- Slate budget breakdown
- Showreel and/or portfolio of completed animation productions
- Verifiable distribution information of previously completed animation productions
- Clear training and development strategy
- BBBEE certificate of a company applying;
- Original valid company Tax Status Pin Document from SARS. (Note that all applying companies will be checked for Tax Compliance Status on the SARS system. Should a company not be compliant at the time of verification, this will result in automatic disqualification)
- Company registration documents; and
- A minimum of 3 concepts ready for development. Project outlines (for minimum of three concepts) must contain the following: Synopsis, Logline, Genre, Target market, Visual description of key characters and world of story
- Failure to submit any one of the compulsory documentations will render the application incomplete and therefore disqualified for consideration.
For more information, contact: nadinec@nfvf.co.za
OPENING DATE: 23 March 2026
CLOSING DATE: 24 April 2026 by 17h00.
Applications must be uploaded to Praxis by the closing date: nfvf.praxisgms.co.za.