National Film and Video Foundation/Netherlands Film Fund: Thuthuka Co-Development Fund Call

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the Netherlands Film Fund (NFF), invite South African filmmakers to apply for the Thuthuka co-development scheme. This scheme supports projects with high cinematographic quality and interest to cinema audiences in both countries, as well as to international cinema audiences.

Details:

• The annual budget of the Fund amounts as a rule up to 80.000 EUR. The NFVF will match the equivalent of 40.000 EUR in ZAR, considering currency fluctuations.
• No more than four (4) projects will be supported each year, two (2) from South Africa and two (2) from the Netherlands. Each project will receive € 40.000 (or the equivalent in ZAR). This amount includes a maximum of € 6.000 for the producer’s fee plus overhead.
• Grants are available for script development.

Individual script coaching and/or coaching in the context of workshops is an integral part of this grant.

• The goal is to write a full script and create a pitch book, and to be able to apply for production support. Receiving a THUTHUKA grant does not guarantee selection for future funding.
• Detailed regulations per Fund can be found via links at the end of this call.
• Active participation in the workshops organized by NFVF and NFF is mandatory.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applications are open to:

• Established co-production teams based in the Netherlands and South Africa.
• Applicants who are citizens of the Netherlands and South Africa.
• Established producers with a scriptwriter/director and a co-producer from the other
  country attached for a feature-length (> 60 min) documentary film.

No applications without a co-producer and director from the other country will be considered.

• There are no limitations regarding style.
• Both attached producers, directors and writers must be eligible according to the criteria of the respective funds. Ineligible applicants will be informed of their disqualification after the compliance verification process.
• Projects must be feasible within the criteria of both Funds.
• Applications should be submitted in English and signed by all partners involved.

Ineligible are:

• Live recordings, TV games, talk shows, reality shows or teaching and ‘how-to’ programs to be shown directly in schools.
• Documentaries promoting tourism, “making-of”, reports, news and current affairs programs and “docu-soaps”.
• Projects including pornographic or racist material or advocating violence.
• Works of a promotional nature.
• Institutional productions to promote a specific organisation or its activities.
• Projects previously funded by Thuthuka and received development funding from both the NFF and the NFVF main funding stream.
• Companies, producers, writers or directors involved with a project currently in Thuthuka development.
• Applications with a South African writer/director in South Africa

Application Deadline: 05 October 2026 at 17h00

Click here for more information.