
Invitation to submit proposals for the NFVF/Netflix Micro Budget Films Project.
The NFVF and Netflix release the call for Micro-budget fiction films.
The closing date for submissions is 07 May 2021.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport Arts and Culture and Netflix in association with Indigenous Film Distribution, are proud to announce that the call for micro-budget film proposals is officially open. This collaboration looks to create new opportunities for emerging filmmakers in the local film industry after many productions have had to cancel or postpone due to COVID-19 and the nationwide lockdown. The aim of this fund is to help alleviate the pressure filmmakers face to raise funding and will assist in the alleviation of low job creation currently faced by the sector.
This partnership will fund 6 micro-budget feature films at 100% of the production budgets. Specific attention will be paid to creatives who have at least 2 short films and venturing into their first and second time as feature writers, directors and producers. Preference will be given to compelling, character-driven narratives in genres that are original and demonstrate a filmmaker's unique vision. Films should also be culturally-authentic with a global appeal.
All projects should be at final stages of development.
DEFINITIONS:
Micro Budget film - A motion picture shot within tight financial parameters, usually with minimal cast, crew, and equipment.
Fiction An audio-visual production which places an emphasis on an imaginary account of a story. It may be based on fact or adapted from a literary or other work.
Feature film - A motion picture with a minimum run time of 80 minutes and a maximum run time of 120 minutes.
Emerging Filmmaker - Women and Youth filmmakers (writers, director, producers, DOPs) working on their first or second time feature films, these filmmakers must have a body of work (shorts films, 1 features) that shows their artistic style and vision.
Tier 1 - Experienced filmmakers with a proven track record for developing and producing 3-5 theatrically-released feature films.
Tier 2 - Filmmakers with limited experience but have developed and produced 1-2 theatrical feature films, television fiction, documentaries, 2-3 short films and/or commercials seeking to venture into feature film development and production.
Tier 3 - New entrants into the industry, particularly recent film school graduates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. This intervention is geared towards first time filmmakers having a calling card in the film industry.
BUDGET:
Stream one: Films @ R4 000 000 Cap: Feature Films by emerging talent. [Tier 2 or Tier 3 talent]
Stream two: Films @ R6 000 000 Cap: Only eligible for established filmmakers with a minimum of two features [Tier 1 or Tier 2 talent]
APPLICATIONS:
Applications must include the following Creative information:
Brief project summary (maximum 5 pages) that includes Synopsis, Logline, Genre, Target market
Fiction: Full Script (at final draft).
CVs of the key creative: Producer, Director, Writer, DOP, Editor, and Leading Cast.
Letter of intent from director
Producer's notes.
Director's Treatment (maximum 20 pages).
Detailed budget (Amounts to be spent at pre-production, production, and post-production) and Cash Flow.
Production schedule
A document explaining the stage at which the project has reached as of the date of this application and identify its needs in terms of production (max 600 words).
Applications must include the following Administrative information:
Tax Clearance
Certified ID copy (6 months)
Company registration / or SPV is applicable.
BBBEE Certificate
A list of the films/ audio-visual projects produced by company/ies.
Links of the director's previous work
Chain of title documentation/ Contracts proving the acquisition of necessary rights (e.g. option contract, script writer's contract, music etc.).
Interested parties are invited to apply online: click here or https://nfvf.praxisgms.co.za/
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Late submissions will not be considered.
Projects that do not meet the criteria will not be considered.
Projects that do not have developed scripts will not be considered.
Companies that have been awarded NFVF production funding can not apply with the same project.
Slate beneficiaries are not eligible.
Budgets that are above the capped amounts will not be considered. Filmmakers must tier themselves correctly.
The parties reserve the right to require other documentation from applicants for the completion of the assessment of the project.
Applications open 1 April 2021
Applications will close on 07 May 2021.
Kindly email all application queries to Applications@nfvf.co.za and all content queries to Refiloe Hlabioa at refiloeh@nfvf.co.za or Nadine Cloete at nadinec@nfvf.co.za
DISCLAIMER
All funding is subject to the approval of all three parties (NFVF, Netflix and Indigenous Film Distribution). Selected films will be licensed exclusively to Netflix for a period to be determined by the partners.
End:
About NFVF
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture that was created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africas film and video industry. The NFVF does this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing, and distribution of films and 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.
About Netflix
Netflix is the worlds leading streaming entertainment service with 204 million paid memberships in over 190 countr
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/11/2026
The company's chief revenue officer shares its new messaging emphasizing its...
04/11/2026
Gravity Media has brought its SMARThead robotic camera technology to the United ...
04/11/2026
WWE and The Walt Disney Company have announced a two-day takeover of ESPN Wide W...
04/11/2026
RT combined Calrec's Type R system with its SMPTE ST 2110 network to change how it mixed commentary for the 2026 World Football Championship. Where six com...
04/11/2026
D sseldorf-based production company Bildquadrat is using Riedel's Virtual SmartPanel (VSP) to expand its intercom infrastructure for mobile and geographical...
04/11/2026
Verizon, an official NFL partner since 2010, has outlined its network and connected-technology work for the 2026 NFL season, spanning officiating, coach communi...
04/11/2026
It's not just the video. The in-venue sound and noise also bring the energy ...
04/11/2026
Latest Expressive Suites announced
Expressive E have teamed up with GForce Software to create a collection of MPE presets for two of the company's popul...
04/11/2026
Latest instrument pack now available
Modartt's much-loved virtual piano suite has just been treated to another update, gaining a new instrument pack tha...
04/11/2026
Captures an array of classic 1980s synths
The third instrument from ebbandflow has just arrived, delivering a collection of 100 patches that have been creat...
04/11/2026
Instrument Stacks, editing improvements, new stock plug-ins & more
Steinberg have just launched the latest version of their award-winning music-focused DAW,...
04/11/2026
New native room-modelling plug-in announced
Universal Audio's latest native room-modelling and reverb plug-in captures the sound of one of the world'...
04/11/2026
London - October 29, 2026 - Creative software developer Foundry today announced ...
04/11/2026
Long known for using Calrec in television, RT turned to the Type R workflow it had adopted in radio to build a multi-mix commentary area for this summer's ...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that D sseldorf-based production company Bildquadrat relies on Riedel's Virtual SmartPanel (VSP) to flexibly expand it...
04/11/2026
For a tour built around bringing an audience closer to the artist, what happens beyond the stage can be just as important as what happens on it. For Hilary Duff...
04/11/2026
Premiere mobile adds music from UMG and WMG, helping creators find the perfect t...
04/11/2026
Towson University Relies on Blackmagic Design for Media Production
Brie Clayton November 4, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio implementation driv...
04/11/2026
Berklee Celebrates Screen Scoring Talent at Annual BMI Day Emmy-nominated composer and alumnus Tony Morales returned to campus to work with students, while se...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
RT combined Calrec's Type R system with its SMPTE ST 2110 network to rethink how it mixed commentary for the 2026 World Football Championship. Where six co...
04/11/2026
NAB Show New York 2026 Innovation
David Kirk November 3, 2026
0 Comments
Now in its 11th year, NAB Show New York was established as an East Coast vari...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/11/2026
Advanced Systems Group (ASG) has appointed Bob Daniel as Storage and Workflow Solutions Architect within the Enterprise Storage team. Daniel has over 30 years o...
04/11/2026
From Gold to Diamond: YouView Reaches Greenlys Highest Sustainability Certificat...
04/11/2026
Residential mobile data usage continues to grow significantly, and Magyar Telekom is expanding its network accordingly. Its customers can now access the company...
03/11/2026
Grass Valley has announced that France T l visions has completed the first phase...
03/11/2026
SES and WELT TV have renewed their partnership under a new multi-year agreement for satellite distribution in Germany. The agreement runs into the next decade a...
03/11/2026
Eutelsat's OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) network will provide connectivity as...
03/11/2026
CONMEBOL has renewed its agreement with GRUP MEDIAPRO, which will continue to run the CONMEBOL Hub's end-to-end operation through 2030. The Hub handles prod...
03/11/2026
Aggreko has returned as Official Temporary Power Partner for the FORMULA 1 HEINE...
03/11/2026
Gravity Media has deployed its fully IP-based OB truck, Nova 110, in Belgium for the first time. It made its operational debut supporting a UEFA Europa League m...
03/11/2026
The NFL and TMRW Sports have unveiled Premier Flag, the brand identity for a new...
03/11/2026
Stephen Arnold Music has developed the original musical theme and sonic branding...
03/11/2026
Monumental Sports Network (MNMT), the local media rights holder for the NHL's Washington Capitals, NBA's Washington Wizards and WNBA's Washington My...
03/11/2026
Able to provide unique views from inaccessible positions, the in-house-built tec...
03/11/2026
In under two years, a seven-person startup has grown to more than 270 staffers, ...
03/11/2026
The company's mobile technology is intended to enhance digital storytelling and turn young athletes into content creators
Olympics history is currently bei...
03/11/2026
There are many challenges in the sports-video-production industry that keep personnel up at night, and one that's currently on the minds of individuals in b...
03/11/2026
Telstra Broadcast Services may call Australia home but this year it continued to...
03/11/2026
Employs German-made CK12 capsule
Myburgh have announced that their long-awaited M28 microphone is now shipping. Said to be the ideal choice for engineers in...