NEFTi Short Film Competition

Projects are eligible for official selection if they meet the following criteria:

• The producer, director, or writer must be a citizen of an African country
  • African citizens living in the Diaspora are eligible with valid proof of citizenship
• The project must have both a producer and a director attached
• Applicants must be emerging filmmakers who have not produced more than two short films
• Only applicants who intend to attend the Durban FilmMart in person in July 2025 will be considered
• Non-African professionals may apply to register as delegates only; they are not eligible for official selection
• Previously selected NEFTI Competition projects/participant may not be resubmitted

Proof of intellectual property ownership must be submitted upon selection

1. Call for Submissions Opens
   Date: May 30, 2025
   Platform: www.durbanfilmmart.com
2. Application Requirements
   All applicants must submit:
   • A complete project dossier (treatment, synopsis, director’s vision and budget)
   • Certified proof of African citizenship for director, writer, or producer (valid passport or ID)
   • Bios/CVs for key creative team members
   • Statement of intent and goals for attending DFM
   • Submit a 1-minute intro video telling us about yourself
3. Eligibility Screening (Technical Evaluation)
   Projects are first assessed for eligibility, ensuring:
   • Proper documentation is submitted
   • The application meets the African citizenship or partnership criteria
   • Producer and director are both attached to the project
4. Creative Evaluation (Project Evaluation)
   A curated panel of industry experts evaluates based on:
   • Originality and relevance of the story
   • Artistic and market potential
   • Team’s capacity and experience
   • Project feasibility (budget, timeline, clarity of vision)
   • Relevance to African audiences or themes
5. Shortlisting & Confirmation
   • Shortlisted applicants will be contacted in June 2025
   • Confirmation of participation must be made within 7 days of notification
6. Official Selection Announcement
   • Date: 01 July 2025
   • Public announcement via Durban FilmMart channels and partners

• Final film must be 6 minutes max (excluding credits)
• Must be fiction (any genre welcome)
• Must be shot entirely in Durban
• One integral scene must be filmed at the Durban FilmMart venue with dialogue
• No phone cameras allowed
• Films not in English must include subtitles
• Filmmakers are responsible for sourcing their own cast and crew
• Film must be produced on a budget of no more than $1,500 USD

All films must be submitted by 18h00 on 20 July 2025

• Multiple applications may be submitted, but only one project per applicant will be selected per cycle
• Projects selected in previous years cannot be resubmitted
• A single representative must be present at the Durban FilmMart in July 2025
• No travel or accommodation support will be provided
• All communication must go through [email protected]
• Applicants must not contact evaluation panel members
• Final projects must include logos and credits for Durban FilmMart, NEFTI, Panavision.
• Durban FilmMart reserves the right to modify these guidelines with public notice

3 Selected Finalist Teams will receive access to a professional film production kit. Each finalist must bring their own editing laptop and software.

CAMERA PACKAGE

• 1x Sony FX6 Camera Body
• 3x Sony CFexpress A 160GB Cards
• 3x Sony CFexpress USB-C Card Readers

POWER & CHARGING

• 3x Anton Bauer Dionic XT 99Wh Batteries
• 3x Anton Bauer Quad TM4 Chargers

LENSES

• 1x Sony G Master 24–70mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens (E-mount)

SUPPORT SYSTEM

• 1x O’Connor Ultimate 1040 Fluid Head
• 1x Flowtech 100 Carbon Fibre Tripod