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 filmmake
