
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 ...
12/10/2026
The ESPNU and NFL Network altcasts join the previously announced Super Bowl LXI...
12/10/2026
The approach is based on prevention and making production of illegal streams inc...
12/10/2026
Clear-Com provided production communications infrastructure for Rock in Rio 2026, deployed by Brazilian partner Savana Comunica o. The system connected product...
12/10/2026
Extreme H has extended its global broadcast partnership with DAZN, bringing the ...
12/10/2026
beIN Asia Pacific has announced a new agreement with The All England Lawn Tennis...
12/10/2026
ARRI has released Film Lab 1.5, a major update to its OpenFX plugin for applying...
12/10/2026
DAZN has announced the acquisition of BASKET.TV, a basketball streaming service operating across Latin America. Founded in 2020, BASKET.TV has a presence in Arg...
12/10/2026
Industry leaders discuss the growing role of AI in automating production, enhanc...
12/10/2026
NBC Sports' NBA Showtime will broadcast live from Rockefeller Plaza and Madi...
12/10/2026
By Katie Arthurs
Merata Mita (1942-2010), the legendary M ori filmmaker, godmot...
12/10/2026
New features added alongside NKS support
10K Audio's real-time loop-based instrument has just been treated to a free update that brings a wealth of new ...
12/10/2026
New phone-mounted mic captures spatial audio
Sony have just introduced a new mic that allows content creators to capture, edit and export spatial audio from...
12/10/2026
Fully playable mini instrument announced
Originally launched in 1968, the Stylophone was a hugely popular instrument, and despite being marketed as a beginn...
12/10/2026
Eight essential keys instruments in one
Song Athletics have just released a new sample library that brings an assortment of essential piano, keys and synth ...
12/10/2026
Siretta exhibited at NECA 2026 in Las Vegas, showcasing its SNYPER cellular network analysers and antenna solutions to electrical contractors and installers fro...
12/10/2026
Nielsen data reveals traditional television continues to account for 70% of view...
12/10/2026
At Asia's Broadcasting & Infotainment Show (A.B.I.S.) 2026, Interra Systems will showcase its latest innovations in automated QC, media monitoring, captioni...
12/10/2026
Update Strengthens Access Controls, Refines EAS-Net , and Adds SSL-Based CAP Canada Support
Digital Alert Systems, a global leader in emergency communications ...
12/10/2026
Electricity underpins every one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from healthcare and education to economic growth, climate action and digital i...
12/10/2026
Key Takeaways
Cablenet has selected Harmonic's cOS virtualized broadband p...
12/10/2026
Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss First Quarter Fiscal 2027 Financial Result...
12/10/2026
Today, Indie Games Week lights up the App Store with a celebration of the incredible catalogue of imaginative games made by independent teams with big dreams. P...
12/10/2026
As AI factories grow from megawatts to gigawatts, building them takes more than ...
12/10/2026
The annual P.J. O'Connor Awards for RT Radio Drama is now open for entries
Closing date for submissions is Friday October 30 2026
Celebrating what'...
12/10/2026
RT Commercial has today announced Hisense Ireland as sponsor of the TODAY show on RT One and RT Player.
The sponsorship deal with Hisense includes 140 credi...
11/10/2026
The quirky league's largest production to date brings two trucks, 20+ cameras to first-ever Banana Bowl at Nationals Park...
11/10/2026
Save 10% on US orders
Roger Linn Design have announced a limited-time pricing offer on their popular MPE instrument. From 1 October 2026, customers in the U...
11/10/2026
Launched alongside V13 Special Edition modelling mic
WeissKlang have just introduced a new and improved version of the plug-in that pairs up with their V13 ...
10/10/2026
The quirky league's largest production to date brings two trucks, 20+ cameras to first-ever Banana Bowl at Nationals Park...
10/10/2026
By Jessica Herndon
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fest...
10/10/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Associate Professor Keren Lasker, the Ian Wilson Endowed Chair at S...
10/10/2026
New Naruto x Nink Anime, Project Rasengan Roadmap and More
Revealed at New Yor...
09/10/2026
A new Thomson Foundation report explores what experiences in Hungary, Sudan and Uganda can teach us about helping societies withstand disinformation.
While fac...
09/10/2026
Standalone subscriptions, free games, and team hubs anchor the streamer's local-rights push...
09/10/2026
Christoffer Aaron Chris Ober, a longtime and beloved member of FOX Sports' remote production crews who worked on many of the network's biggest events,...
09/10/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
09/10/2026
USSI Global has appointed Ed McGivern as Chief Revenue Officer, reporting to President and CEO Anthony Morelli.
McGivern brings more than 25 years of executive...
09/10/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the deployment of its Easy5G private 5G platform as the primary transmission system for onboard camera signals in the DTM ra...
09/10/2026
The National Duals Invitational championship match will air on ESPN on Sunday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. CT from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 27 prelim...
09/10/2026
Versatile Video Coding is moving closer to mainstream deployment as smartphone manufacturers, semiconductor suppliers, and streaming providers address the hardw...
09/10/2026
PGA Tour golfer Min Woo Lee and Omaha Productions have announced the launch of Lee's official YouTube channel. The first video, filmed at TPC Summerlin, lau...
09/10/2026
ATSC has announced the approval of a Candidate Standard for its Broadcast-to-Everything (B2X) initiative. S44-2-002r6, B2X System Discovery and Signaling, has...
09/10/2026
BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing has announced a partnership with TV Azteca to bring BKB ...
09/10/2026
The SPORTEL Awards 2026 official selection has been announced, with 26 works across seven categories selected from more than 150 entries. Winners will be announ...
09/10/2026
Ateme has announced that RTVE, Spain's public broadcaster, has selected its TITAN Edge platform for satellite contribution on three new transportable produc...
09/10/2026
LiveU has announced that CRD Audiovisuel used the LU900Q intelligent production unit with built-in LiveU IQ (LIQ) connectivity to deliver live content from the ...
09/10/2026
Latest run of limited-edition analogue monosynth now available
British synth experts Analogue Solutions have announced that the second batch of their limite...
09/10/2026
12-months of FX Collection 6 Pro with qualifying monitor purchases
EVE Audio and Arturia are currently running a worldwide promotion that gives customers a ...
09/10/2026
Created in collaboration with Robin Rimbaud
Soniccouture have teamed up with Scanner (Robin Rimbaud) to create a custom sound-design tool based on the artis...