Funding Overview and Criteria
Overview The NFVF provides film and video-related funding in the broad categories of Education and Training; Development (of feature films, documentaries and TV Concepts); Production (of feature films and documentaries) and Marketing and Distribution. Individuals, companies and organisations may submit funding applications to the NFVF in any of these four funding categories. Specific conditions are applicable in each funding category, and it is important for applicants to take careful note of these conditions before submitting an application.
The NFVF will accept proposals for film funding throughout the year. In each category of funding, only one application per organisation, individual or company will be considered. Funding may take the form of a grant, investment or loan. In addition to financial assistance, support mechanisms will be made available once funding is approved. Funding allocation to selected projects will vary according to the specific cash flow needs of the project.
Criteria The NFVF Council makes the final decision on projects that qualify for funding as mandated by the NFVF Act. While each category of funding has its own specific criteria, the ultimate goal is to ensure that filmmakers from emerging to experienced benefit equitably from NFVF funding and programmes. For more details on funding criteria and application requirements, please download the NFVF Funding Policy below.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) call for development and production funding applications is open.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), is pleased to announce that the call for cycle 2 funding applications for the 2020/21 financial year is now open for the following funding categories:
Tiers 1 & 2 - Documentary Development (feature films and short films)
Tier 3 - Documentary Development - short films
Tiers 1 & 2 – Production: Animation, Archive Funding, Feature Film - Documentary, Feature Film – Fiction, Micro-Budget/Made-for-TV Movie, Short Film – Documentary, Short Film – Fiction, Web Series, 2 – 3 Part TV Length Documentary, TV Pilot, Short film - Animation
Tier 3 – Production: Micro-Budget/Made-for-TV Movie, Short Film – Documentary, Short Film – Fiction, Web Series, Short film - Animation
Tiers 1 & 2 – Post-Production: Feature Film – Documentary, Feature Film – Fiction
Individuals, companies and organisations may submit funding applications to the NFVF for any of the above funding categories. Specific conditions are applicable for each funding category, and it is important for applicants to take careful note of these conditions before submitting an application.
Opening date for submissions: 29 July 2020
Closing date for submissions: 23 August 2020
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The NFVF will not open for the following funding categories for this cycle:
Fiction Development (animation, feature films, short films, and TV formats).
The updated 2020/21 funding caps are below:
DEVELOPMENT - CAP - TIER
Feature Film (Documentary) - R 180 000 - Tier 1 and 2
Short Film (Documentary) - R 100 000 - Tier 1, 2 and 3
PRODUCTION - CAP - TIER
1. Feature Film (Fiction) - R 1 800 000 - Tier 1 and 2
2. Feature Film (Documentary) -
R 700 000 - Tier 1
R 500 000 - Tier 2
R 1 000 000 - Tier 1 and 2 (Co-productions only)
3. Made for TV Movies/Microbudget Films - R 300 000 - Tier 1, 2 and 3
4. Short Film (Fiction)
R 250 000 - Tier 1 and 2
R 200 000 - Tier 3
5. Short Film (Documentary)
R 200 000 - Tier 1 and 2
R 150 000 - Tier 3