The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is a statutory body established to promote and develop the South African film and video industry, including animation and interactive media.The NFVF invites South African gaming studios with a game that already plays to apply for the Market Readiness Programme. This ten-week incubation programme takes a working build to a technically validated pilot or published release. Three studios will be selected.
Each selected studio receives a grant of R240,000 from the NFVF, released against milestones, to pay for the launch costs a studio at this stage usually cannot cover. Each studio also works with two dedicated mentors and attends eight hands-on mentor clinics, delivered with Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct at Wits University. The programme is supported by the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC).
Programme overview
Focus area: Taking a playable game to a pilot or published release
Duration: 10 delivery weeks
Programme dates: 11 January to 19 March 2027
Location: Tshimologong Gaming Hub, 41 Juta Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Number of studios: 3
Grant: R240,000 per studio, paid by the NFVF in three tranches
Demo Day: Thursday, 18 March 2027
What selected studios receive
A grant of R240,000: paid directly by the NFVF in three tranches (R96,000, R96,000 and R48,000) against verified milestones, for QA and playtesting, platform fees and certification, localisation, marketing and user acquisition, and contract technical or production talent.
Two dedicated mentors: a business development mentor and a technical validation mentor, each giving 20 hours to your studio and working from one shared Market Readiness Plan.
Eight mentor clinics: four on the business of taking a game to market and four on the technical side of building for it. Each studio applies the topic to its own game, numbers and plan.
Studio days at the Gaming Hub: production days in Braamfontein with access to the Tshimologong Gaming Hub, equipment and connectivity.
Demo Day: a platform to present your game to publishers, platforms, funders and investors.
A next-step application: at least one funding, publisher or distribution application prepared to submission standard.
Full ownership of your IP: the NFVF takes no equity and no intellectual property rights.
Who should apply?
Apply if your studio has a playable game at beta, vertical-slice-plus or soft-launch stage and a clear plan to pilot or publish it within the programme. A game that is already published may apply if the programme can help it reach a clear next step, such as a new platform, a major update or a new market, within the ten weeks.
This programme is not for studios still working on an idea, a design document or an early prototype.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must:
Be a company registered in South Africa with CIPC, in good standing.
Be at least 51% black-owned and managed.
Be wholly owned by South African citizens or permanent residents.
Hold a valid SARS tax compliance status.
Hold a valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, not older than one year.
Have a playable build at beta, vertical-slice-plus or soft-launch stage that the panel can access.
Hold confirmed rights to the intellectual property they will take to market.
Set a defined pilot or release target that is achievable within ten weeks.
Have a core team of at least two people available for the full programme.
Have at least twelve months of operating or development history.
Disclose all other funding received or applied for, with no double funding of the same costs.
Be able to attend studio days at the Gaming Hub in Braamfontein. Studios from other provinces may use part of their grant for travel, as set out in their approved plan.
The following are not eligible: individuals or unregistered teams, co-productions or companies with foreign shareholding, studios whose main business is not game development, studios at idea or early prototype stage, and products that are unlawful or primarily real-money gambling.
How to apply
Download the application form at the link below, complete it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) and save it. Annexure A lists the questions so you can prepare your answers before you start.
DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM: https://nfvf-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/lerona_nfvf_co_za/cQoqS43LGQXkSoh657K0jgNXEgUCNHjyczgbM7IqYPslsHUo6A SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO: training@nfvf.co.za
Applicants must submit:
The completed application form (link above), including a launch readiness brief, a proposed use of the grant and the signed declarations in section 9 of the form.
CIPC company registration documents and a shareholder register.
Certified copies of the South African IDs of all shareholders and directors.
A valid SARS tax compliance status PIN or certificate.
A B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, not older than one year.
A link to the playable build (or access instructions) and a gameplay video of up to three minutes.
Team profiles and basic financial information for the last twelve months.
Email the completed application form and all supporting documents to training@nfvf.co.za with the subject line Market Readiness Programme: [Studio name] . Submit one application per studio, for one game. Send large files and builds as download or access links. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application dates
Applications open: Friday, 6 November 2026
Closing date: Friday, 4 December 2026 at 17h00
Late applications will not be considered.
Selection process
Selection runs in five stages:
Stage What happens
1. Compliance check 7 to 9 December The NFVF checks every application against the eligibility criteria and required documents.
2. Scored evaluation 9 to 11 December The adjudication panel of the NFVF, Tshimologong and independent reviewers scores each compliant application out
