The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites eligible Tier 1 and 2 South African production companies to submit proposals to serve as the Facilitating Production Company for the Female Filmmaker Project for a period of three (3) years. This initiative forms part of the NFVF’s mandate to advance transformation, skills development, and access to opportunities for female filmmakers within the South African film industry.
The selected production company will be responsible for the management, implementation and delivery of the programme, including the training, development, mentorship and the production of short films by emerging female filmmakers.
Background
The Female Filmmaker Project is a strategic intervention by the National Film and Video Foundation aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women in key creative and leadership roles within the South African film industry. This means all women, including but not limited to queer women, women of colour, women with disability, trans women.
The programme provides emerging female filmmakers, particularly those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, with the opportunity to develop their storytelling skills and gain practical production experience through a structured mentorship and production process.
Through this initiative, emerging filmmakers will collaborate with experienced mentors and industry professionals to develop original concepts and produce short films that serve as professional calling cards for future work in film and television.
The programme will be supported by a broadcast partnership with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), providing participating filmmakers with the opportunity to reach national audiences and gain exposure for their work. The SABC will hold a five-year broadcast licence for the completed films structured as follows:
• Years 1–2: Exclusive broadcast licence
• Years 3–5: Non-exclusive broadcast licence
Applicants should take this arrangement into account when proposing distribution strategies or additional partnerships.
Objectives
The objectives of the Female Filmmaker Project are:
- To nurture, support and promote female filmmakers in South Africa through structured training and mentorship
- To provide practical opportunities for emerging filmmakers to develop and produce short films
- To identify and develop regionally diverse storytelling voices
- To strengthen the pipeline of women directors and writers within the South African film and television industry
- To contribute to the long-term transformation and sustainability of the industry
Scope of Work
The appointed Facilitating Production Company will be responsible for the design, management and implementation of the programme, including but not limited to:
- Designing and administering a national call for emerging female filmmakers
- Managing the selection process in collaboration with the NFVF
- Coordinating training workshops and development labs
- Appointing and coordinating experienced industry mentors
- Supporting filmmakers in developing their concepts to final script stage
- Managing the production of selected short films from pre-production to post-production
- Overseeing programme administration, contracting and financial management
- Delivering completed films and associated marketing materials
- Identifying marketing, festival and distribution opportunities for the completed films
- Submitting regular programme and financial reports to the NFVF.
- The programme is intended as a filmmaker development initiative. The Facilitating Production Company must ensure that participating filmmakers remain actively involved in the creative development and production of their films and are supported through mentorship and professional guidance throughout the programme.
Programme Structure
The programme will run over a three-year period.
Each year the programme will support:
- Up to ten (10) emerging female filmmakers participating in development and mentorship activities
- Female applicants with a minimum of two years’ experience in the industry in any department. Preference given to women who have not had an opportunity to make a film.
- Script development and mentorship for selected projects.
- Upon completion of the development of the scripts, the Company and the NFVF will select the best scripts for production.
- The production of up to eight (8) short films
Short films must:
- Be between 23 and 25 minutes in duration
- Be led by women in key creative roles, particularly writing and directing
- Demonstrate strong storytelling and production quality appropriate for festival, broadcast or digital exhibition
Budget Framework
The Female Filmmaker Project is funded at a total value of R18 000 000 over three years, with R6 000 000 allocated per annum.
Programme Budget (NFVF Allocation)
Applicants must submit a detailed budget demonstrating how the programme will be implemented within the allocated funding of R6 000 000 per annum.
This budget must include:
- Programme facilitation and administration fees
- Training workshops and development activities
- Mentor fees and development support
- Production of short films
- Marketing, delivery and distribution activities
Programme facilitation and management costs may not exceed 20% of the annual programme budget.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the programme will be implemented within the allocated funding.
Intellectual Property
All intellectual property rights in the films produced through the Female Filmmaker Project must vest with the participating filmmakers.
The Facilitating Production Company will act in a programme management, mentorship and production support capacity and may not require participating filmmakers to assign intellectual property rights as a condition of participation in the programme.
The Facilitating Production Company must assist filmmakers with festival strategy, marketing and distribution, provided that such arrangements are transparent and do not compromise the filmmakers’ ownership or fair participation in the future revenues of their work.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for consideration, the production company must:
- Be a South African owned and registered production company
- Be majority owned and controlled by women at least 51%, with preference given to Black women-owned companies
- Have at least five years’ long form experience in film or television development and production
- Tier 1 Production Company – Experienced filmmakers who have a proven track record for developing and, or producing at least three successful and commercially viable feature films, series, TV films or documentaries.
- Tier 2 Production Company – Filmmakers with limited experience. They must have developed and produced one or two feature films, TV films, TV series, documentaries, or a minimum of four short films and/or commercials.
- Demonstrate mentorship or skills development experience within the industry
- Comply with BBBEE requirements
- Provide a valid Tax Status PIN. (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)
- Applicants must apply through a registered company and not in an independent capacity.
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, Post Production, Marketing and Distribution and Festival Funding Support.
- Applicants who apply in their individual capacity.
Film Project Requirements
The Company must be able to commit and adhere to the following terms of the NFVF brief:
- Develop 10 and produce 8 short films
- Be able to produce the films at a budget of R500 000 each.
- Any budget excess will not be funded by the NFVF.
- Any additional funding raised towards the production of the films is exclusive of the NFVF’s contribution and the NFVF will not be held responsible for the raising of any additional funding.
Application Requirements
All applicants should provide the following documentation:
- 1 – 2 page motivation (Applicant’s vision for the programme and their approach to running the Female Filmmaker Project.)
- Project plan/roll-out (envisaged structure of programme)
- Production company executive summary with detailed company experience
- Producer and key management team’s CVs with filmography (Describe the team responsible for the programme.)
- Mentorship Approach and Industry Network
(Describe how mentors will be engaged and how filmmakers will be supported.)
- Proposed training and development schedule
- Proposed production schedule
- Risk Awareness and Mitigation Plan
(Briefly identify key operational risks and how they would be addressed.)
- Talent Development Example
(Brief example of a previous mentorship, workshop, or development project with emerging filmmakers.)
- Programme Budget (NFVF Allocation of R6 000 000 per annum)
- Marketing and distribution strategy and plan
- Recently Certified ID copy (dated certification stamp not older than six months)
- Company registration documents
- BBBEE certificate of company
- Valid Tax Clearance Status Pin Document (not older than one year). (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)
FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION
Opening Date: 23 March 2026
Closing date : 24 April 2026, 17:00
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Applicants need to register and complete the online application form using the following link: https://nfvf.praxisgms.co.za/
Technical and application queries may be directed to Thandekile Hlatshwayo thandekileh@nfvf.co.za or Manti Mmalebati Mantis@nfvf.co.za
Content queries maybe directed to Refiloe Hlabioa at refiloeh@nfvf.co.za or Tsietsi Themane tsietsit@nfvf.co.za
About NFVF
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture, was mandated to ensure the equitable growth of the South African film and video industry. The NFVF does this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers. In addition, the NFVF commissions research and produces industry statistics that provide both the public and stakeholders with valuable insights into the South African film industry.