
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, has reiterated its ongoing commitment to supporting South African filmmakers through fair, transparent, and merit-based funding processes. In light of recent media commentary by filmmaker Weaam Williams, the Foundation finds it necessary to clarify its approach, restate its support for creative voices, and provide a full account of the funding support Ms Williams has received over the years.
Over R2 384 400 Million Invested in Weaam Williams' Creative Career
Since 2022, the NFVF has extended funding across multiple categories to support Weaam Williams, a filmmaker whose work addresses significant socio-political and cultural themes. The NFVF recognises her as an important contributor to South Africa's documentary and feature film space.
Below is a full breakdown of NFVF funding awarded to Ms Williams:
Funding Pillar Project Year Funding Grant Approved Jury Member Fee
Production & Development and Marketing & Distribution
Development District Six- Rising from the Dust 2015 R120 000,00
Development -Short Two Hues 2015 R100 000,00
Archive Funding District Six- Rising from the Dust 2016 R250 000,00
Production District Six- Rising from the Dust 2017 R350 000,00
Marketing and Distribution District Six- Rising from the Dust 2018 R180 000,00
Production-Short Film Two Hues 2018 R200 000,00
Development - Feature Film Two Hues 2020 R200 000,00
Development Two Hues 2020 R100 000,00
Marketing and Distribution Two Hues 2020 R100 000,00
Development The Rise 2020 R120 000,00
Post - Production The Rise 2020 R120 000,00
Marketing and Distribution The Rise 2023 R100 000,00
Archive The Rise 2024 R280 000,00
Film Festival and Market Attendance Funding
Local Durban FilmMart (DFM) 2022 R15 000,00
International Cannes International Film Festival 2022 R40 000,00
International Lagos International Film Festival (She cancelled the trip) 2023 R50 000,00
International Africa Goes To Hollywood 2023 R50 000,00
International Cannes International Film Festival (Cannes) 2024 R50 000,00
Local Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) 2024 R20 000,00
Jury Participation
South African Film and Television Awards SAFTAs14 2020 R4 000,00
South African Film and Television Awards SAFTAs17 2023 R5 000,00
Oscars (Academy Awards) Selection Committee Member 96th Academy Awards 2023 R5 000,00
Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) Festival Hosted by Weaam 9 Filmmakers were funded from the markets and festivals attendance funding to Attend HACC 2025 R159 400,00
Sub Total: R2 445,000.00 R14 000,00
Total Funding Ms Williams Was Approved For (Project Related Grant Funding + Jury Member Fees) R2 459 000,00
Total Funding Ms Williams Received (Less funding for LIFF as she did not attend) R2 409 000,00
This funding has enabled Ms Williams to complete, market, and distribute her films, build production capacity, and participate in prestigious global platforms such as the Oscars and SAFTAs.
The NFVF Funding Process: Expert-Led, Transparent, and Competitive
To ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and in line with the NFVF Act, the NFVF follows a multi-step process for all funding applications:
Public Calls are published for each funding cycle, open to all eligible applicants.
Applications are assessed by independent advisory panels, made up of experienced industry professionals from across South Africa.
Final decisions are taken by the NFVF Council, a statutory body that meets under quorum and operates under strict governance protocols.
All approved projects and funding allocations are published publicly on the NFVF website to ensure transparency and accountability.
Each application is judged on its creative merit, business viability, impact potential, and adherence to transformation goals. Due to high volumes and limited budget, funding cannot be guaranteed, even to those with a successful funding history.
Response to Media Commentary
The NFVF notes Ms Williams' opinion piece, in which she raises concerns about the outcome of a recent unsuccessful application. While the Foundation values and encourages public engagement, it is also important to provide context: Ms Williams has received R2 409 000.00 in NFVF support since 2015 across multiple streams and projects.
Her most recent application was not approved due to the competitive nature of the process and budgetary limits. This is not an unusual occurrence, as all applications are subject to rigorous, impartial evaluation.
Strategic Focus and Budget Alignment
While the NFVF did not send an official delegation to Cannes 2025, this decision followed a Ministerial directive aimed at ensuring that 75% of the Foundation's annual budget is allocated to film production, in line with legislation. The NFVF remains focused on funding content creation, supporting South African intellectual property, and enabling global visibility through project-based investment.
Open Calls for 2025
Filmmakers are encouraged to apply through the currently open Production and Development Calls. Application guidelines, eligibility criteria, and submission portals can be accessed via the official NFVF website.
#LoveSAFilm
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lerato Mokopanele
Marketing and Communications Manager
National Film and Video Foundation
Email: Leratom@nfvf.co.za
About the NFVF: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is a statutory body mandated to promote and develop the South African film and video industry. It provides funding for film projects, facilitates training and skills development, and promotes South African content locally and internationally. The NFVF aims to create a sustain
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
14/09/2025
Partnership to address business and technical challenges of DMF adoption
he Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU...
13/09/2025
ATLANTA Cox Media Group has announced that the company's vice president of news, Misty Turnbull has been inducted into the National Academy of Television Ar...
13/09/2025
AMSTERDAM Shotoku Broadcast Systems, a major developer of robotic systems, has announced plans to take studio robotics to the next level at IBC2025 by debuting ...
13/09/2025
At IBC2025 in Amsterdam, Riedel Communications unveiled Bolero Mini, the company's lightest and flattest wireless intercom beltpack to date. Designed to del...
13/09/2025
Shotoku Broadcast Systems, the international developer of dependable, userfriendly robotic systems, is taking studio robotics to the next level at IBC 2025 with...
13/09/2025
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, today released the 9th annual Video Developer Report 2025/26, offering an in-depth look at the evolvi...
13/09/2025
Bitmovin, the leading provider of video streaming solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with StreamShark, the trusted video platform for enterprise...
13/09/2025
Ikegami has chosen IBC 2025 in Amsterdam as the launch venue for a major addition to its range of viewfinders. The new VFE-P711AD is a 7-inch high resolution OL...
13/09/2025
Founder-led Merger to Fast Track R&D, Asset Library Upgrades, Tools and More; No Disruption to Pricing or Support for Users
Today, KitBash3D, a pioneer in 3D a...
13/09/2025
With NDI certification, Atomos integration, Grass Valley collaboration, and a new Monitor app, at this year's IBC, Mavis is showcasing a series of powerful...
13/09/2025
Creamsource, maker of artisan LED lighting for film and television, has unveiled the Vortex24 Soft (V24S), a 1950W native soft light and the largest soft source...
13/09/2025
When international sports streaming service DAZN secured the global rights to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup football tournament, it set out to deliver an unmatch...
13/09/2025
Riedel Communications today announced the acquisition of hi human interface from Broadcast Solutions, bringing a powerful, vendor-agnostic control system to it...
13/09/2025
Building on its long-term relationship with audio metering specialist RTW, Calrec has integrated the company's brand new TMxCore metering platform across it...
13/09/2025
Calrec is expanding its family of future-ready self-contained Argo M control surfaces at IBC2025, with the addition of a brand new powerful 48-fader console. Co...
13/09/2025
Celtic languages - including Cornish, Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh - are the U.K.'s oldest living languages. To empower their speakers, the UK-LLM sover...
13/09/2025
Harmonic's Software-Based XOS Advanced Media Processor Provides Unparalleled Efficiency and Unlocks New Business Models SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sept. 13, 2025 -...
13/09/2025
Researchers find brain region that fuels compulsive drinking Study by Scripps Research scientists shows how the brain learns to seek alcohol for relief, not jus...
12/09/2025
College Football Kickoff 2025: Fox Sports Ups Look as Canon, Sony Power Shallow ...
12/09/2025
ABC/ESPN Excited For WNBA Postseason Coverage In Revamped FormatThe Finals moves to a best-of-seven series in 2025By Mark J Burns, SVG Contributor
Friday, Sep...
12/09/2025
(L-R) Jade Croot, Rosy McEwen, and Bryn Chainey attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Rabbit Trap at Eccles Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park ...
12/09/2025
For fans, we know how important it is to stay plugged into music culture and dis...
12/09/2025
Link ping, Sweden and Shipley, United Kingdom, September 12, 2025 - Agama, the expert in video observability and analytics for service quality and customer expe...
12/09/2025
IBC2025 began on Sept. 12, with exhibits and conferences running through Sept. 15 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Explore the full TV Tech coverage of t...
12/09/2025
The Best Fictional Bands (and the Artists Who Make Them Great) With Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hitting theaters and songs from KPop Demon Hunters ruling...
12/09/2025
Industry veteran Tom Baldassare has joined Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, as a Se...
12/09/2025
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, and more, today announced a...
12/09/2025
PlayBox Neo, a leading provider of media playout solutions, has partnered with AI-Media, pioneering developers of AI-powered captioning technology, to integrate...
12/09/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
12/09/2025
New alliance strengthens the IT channel in Germany and Switzerland in protecting business-critical SaaS data.
Keepit, the world s only independent, cloud-nativ...
12/09/2025
Fincons Group, an international IT business consultancy and systems integrator company with more than 40 years of experience in the market, is proud to announce...
12/09/2025
Following its acquisition of Telemetrics, EVS continues its push into robotics with an announcement at IBC2025 that it is acquiring XD motion....
12/09/2025
TORONTO The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) has announced the appointment of Eduardo Ruiz Sanchez, deputy director, broadcast operations at Telev...
12/09/2025
Ed Miller, a longtime broadcast engineer in Ohio and a former national president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, has died....
12/09/2025
AMSTERDAM At this year's IBC2025, the Advanced HDR by Technicolor initiative will be pushing broadcasters to adopt a more dynamic, frame-by-frame conversion...
12/09/2025
Feature-length retrospective from Studio Crook to air in 2026
Sir David Jason returns to the nation's favourite comedy channel, U&GOLD, for Open All Hours:...
12/09/2025
September 12th, 2025
Tribeca X and The Female Quotient to Host Powerhouse Em...
12/09/2025
Friday 12 September 2025
The Boomtown Rats, Nyah Grace, Soweto Kinch, Royal Ballet and Madness also announced to perform at the ceremony on Tuesday
Sky today ...
12/09/2025
Wuppertal September 12, 2025
Riedel Unveils Ultra-Light Bolero Mini Wireless Intercom BeltpackAt IBC2025 in Amsterdam, Riedel Communications unveiled Bolero M...
12/09/2025
Wuppertal September 12, 2025
Riedel Communications Acquires hi human interfaceRiedel Communications today announced the acquisition of hi human interface fro...
12/09/2025
Back to All News
New International Crime Series Road (WT)' Explores Twiste...
12/09/2025
Back to All News
First Look: Thai Crime Drama Everybody Loves Me When I'm ...
12/09/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Marks 10 Years in Japan, Announces Three New Series Th...
12/09/2025
CORE+ virtually removes distortion, setting a new standard for church sound and giving worship teams the clarity and confidence they need.
Read the full artic...
12/09/2025
The Late Late Show is back with a bang after the summer break, and Patrick Kielt...
12/09/2025
The World Athletics Championships, Ireland v France in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the Irish Champions Festival, and two Sports Direct Men...
12/09/2025
The Records Show starts Sunday at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player.
Katie Hanno...
11/09/2025
Report: Busy Live Sports Streaming Execs Have Low-hanging Fruit' in Front o...