Netflix UNESCO Short Film Competition for Filmmakers in sub-Saharan African Countries 2022

We believe that a great story can come from anywhere, and be loved everywhere. Africa has a rich heritage of storytelling and a young population that is ready to step up and tell Africa’s stories, in all their multiplicity. We’re excited by the fresh new voices that are ready to tell the stories they were told by prior generations, to the world. Netflix has partnered with UNESCO to launch a short film competition, “African Folktales, Reimagined,” to find the bravest, wittiest, and most surprising retellings of some of Africa’s most-loved folktales. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got.

Folktales have always played an important role in the heritage of a culture, passing down values, knowledge, and customs from one generation to the next. Knowledge that builds communities, nations and unites the world in shared understanding and experience. We believe Africa’s rich history of storytelling, from universal tales to hyper-local fables, provides a fertile ground for creative retelling. This is an opportunity to reimagine the relevance of these tales to our contemporary society and extend them to the world stage on-screen: a celebration of Africa’s profoundly varied culture, folklore, and heritage. This competition invites submissions from emerging filmmakers across Sub-Saharan Africa on the theme of “African Folktales, Reimagined”.

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UNESCO Short Film Competition

Aim and Benefits of UNESCO Short Film Competition

Six winners will have their short films (12-20 minutes long) launched on the Netflix service in 2022, as an “Anthology of African Folktales, Reimagined.” Each of the 6 winners will receive a production grant of US$75,000 (through a local production company) to develop, shoot and post-produce their films which will be administered by a nominated local production agency. In addition, each of the 6 winners will receive $25,000.

Requirements for UNESCO Short Film Competition Qualification

• You are under 35 years old
• You are a citizen and resident of a Sub-Saharan African country
• You are a filmmaker with limited experience, but have developed and produced 1- to 2 theatrical feature films, television fiction, documentaries, or 2-3 short films and/or commercials seeking to venture into feature film development and production

If you’re eligible for this competition then let’s get started. Create an account to start your application. You’ll receive an email with a link to your application if you don’t complete it all in one go. 

Interview date, Process and Venue for UNESCO Short Film Competition

Submissions will be reviewed by a designated local agency according to criteria established by Netflix and UNESCO. Selection will be done by an evaluation committee comprised of industry experts from across Sub-Saharan Africa. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to pitch their concept to Netflix and UNESCO, who will then mentor six winners to develop their short films.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

1. Submit synopsis: You will need to submit a synopsis of your concept (no more than 500 words) in a Creative Statement as well as a link to a recent CV and a portfolio of any past audiovisual work you have produced.
2. The shortlist: We’ll announce our top 20 finalists in January who will then be invited to a “How to Pitch to Netflix” workshop.
3. The finalists: Our final 6 winners will be selected by an independent judging panel guided by Netflix and UNESCO

• For more details, visit Netflix website.