DW Akademie seeks African filmmakers


By Content Nigeria reporter
September 23, 2022

News

DW Akademie, a German organisation for international media development, is on the look-out for filmmakers in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda to take part in its film development scheme.

Natascha Schwanke

The Film Development Fund, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development, is a one-year fellowship programme for filmmakers who have made at least one film and have a concept or script for a feature-length documentary, fiction or hybrid feature-length film. These films will be developed and be prepared for production.

Five candidates from each country will be offered a one-year fellowship to work on developing their films, as well as receiving €10,000 (US$9,767). They will be paired with an experienced mentor and have access to training, workshops and networking opportunities.

According to the Bonn-based organisation, the first five grantees from Ethiopia have already successfully completed their one-year fellowships, while the programmes for the first five filmmakers from Tanzania and Uganda are underway.

Natascha Schwanke, DW Akademie director of media development, said: “The continued success of African films in international festivals, in theatres and even on Netflix has shown that filmmaking in Africa is on the rise. The goal of the Film Development Fund is to further support filmmakers – both established and aspiring – who are working to bring African stories to this wider audience.”

Esther Dorn-Fellermann, DW Akademie’s project manager, added: “The positive and constructive engagement between the filmmakers, mentors and experts made the inaugural programmes in all three countries a success. Opening the call for applications for all three countries at once shows DW Akademie’s continued commitment to African filmmaking.”

The DW Akademie Film Development Fund supports filmmakers in developing their film projects, promotes authentic local stories and shares them with international audiences, thereby leading to the sector’s further growth and development, the company said.

The deadline for applications is 26 October. Interested filmmakers from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda should click here to apply.

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