Netflix And UNESCO ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ Entries Closing Soon

Entries For The ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ Competition Open Until 14 November
Six Winners Will Create Short Films That Will Premiere On Netflix

The deadline for the Netflix and UNESCO innovative short film competition on ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ will be closing soon across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The competition, administered by Dalberg,  opened on 14 October 2021 until 14 November 2021. 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 under the guidance of industry mentors selected by UNESCO & Netflix to ensure everyone involved in the production is fairly compensated. In addition, each of the 6 winners will also receive $25,000. The films will premiere on Netflix in 2022 as an “Anthology of African folktales”.  

The competition is open to emerging filmmakers across Sub-Saharan Africa on the theme of “African Folktales, Reimagined.” 

For the first round, applicants will be required to submit a synopsis of their concept (no more than 500 words) as well as links to a recent CV and a portfolio/ evidence of any past audiovisual work they have produced

Applications can be submitted via www.netflix-growcreative.com/unesco until November 14th, 2021 at 14:59 PM CAT. 

About The Application process:

  • How to apply:

Candidates will need to submit a synopsis of their 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 they have produced on www.netflix-growcreative.com/unesco  

  • Applications open 

Applications can be made via www.netflix-growcreative.com/unesco from October 14th. They will close on November 14th, 2021 at 11:59 PM (GMT). 

  • Eligibility Criteria: 
    • The competition is open to individuals seeking to venture into feature film development and production. Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years of demonstrable professional experience in the audio-visual industry. Applicants must have developed and produced 1 to 2 theatrical feature films, television fiction, documentaries, or 2-3 short films and/or commercials. 
    • Candidates must be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country and currently residing in Sub-Saharan Africa to apply. Applicants must be 18-35 years old at the time of submission. 
  • Shortlisted finalists: 

The shortlisted 20 candidates will be announced in January and will then be invited to a “How to Pitch to Netflix” workshop to guide them on how to prepare, polish, and present their film concepts. An independent judging panel, under the guidance of UNESCO and Netflix, will choose the six winners, who will then develop their 12 to 20-minute short films under the guidance of industry mentors.

  • TIMELINE: 
    • October 2021 – Application portal opens on October 14th 
    • November 2021 – Applications close on November 14th 
    • January 2022 – Announcement of Top 20 finalists 
    • January 2022 – Workshop on “How to Pitch to Netflix” for shortlisted candidates 
    • February 2022- Shortlisted candidates invited to pitch final entries to mentors 
    • February 2022 – Final selection via a Netflix and UNESCO joint judging panel 
    • February 2022 – Announcement of 6 winners 
    • Spring/Summer 2022 – Development, production & post-production of films 
    • September/October 2022 – Launch of 6 films on Netflix service

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb