African filmmakers invited to enter global film festival with R2m in prizes

African filmmakers have an opportunity to take their work to an international audience, with the Alternativa Film Festival opening submissions for its first African edition and offering approximately R2 million in prize money, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

The announcement was made at MIP Africa on 29 October, marking a new chapter for the international festival, which focuses on films from the Global South and aims to give under-represented filmmakers greater visibility. The fourth edition of the festival will take place in Africa in late 2027, although the host country, city and exact dates have not yet been confirmed.

Filmmakers interested in entering have until 1 March 2027 to submit their work. Entries are free.

African filmmakers get dedicated award opportunities

The festival is inviting feature-length films from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Short film submissions, however, are reserved exclusively for African filmmakers, reflecting the festival’s focus on the continent for its 2027 edition.

All submitted films must have been completed after 1 January 2026. Fiction, documentaries, animation and hybrid productions across all genres are eligible.

A total of $120 000 (approximately R2 million) will be awarded across seven categories. Three awards have been specifically set aside for African filmmakers: the $20 000 Focus Award and two Short Film Awards worth $10 000 each. African filmmakers can also compete for the remaining awards.

Directors whose films make the official competition selection will be invited to attend the festival and awards ceremony, with Alternativa covering their travel and accommodation.

AFF 2026 Medellín nominee – Samuel Suffren. Picture: Supplied

Taking African stories to international audiences

Beyond the awards, the festival aims to address a wider challenge facing filmmakers from developing regions: getting their work seen beyond their home countries. Alternativa was established to support impact-driven cinema from the Global South, a region representing roughly five out of every six people worldwide but still facing limited representation in international film spaces.

Its ambitions extend beyond hosting screenings. Earlier in 2026, the organisation launched Alternativa Distribution, a non-profit distribution initiative designed to help filmmakers reach wider audiences while reinvesting in local film industries.

The model includes upfront minimum guarantees for non-theatrical distribution rights, funding for subtitles and dubbing, and revenue-sharing arrangements once direct distribution costs have been recovered.

‘Exceptional filmmaking can come from anywhere, but access to international audiences is still hindered by a deeply unequal system. Alternativa Distribution was created to challenge that imbalance.’

– Arsen Tomsky, founder and CEO of inDrive.

Its catalogue already features films from several countries, including Nepal‘s Elephants in the Fog, Afghanistan’s No Good Men, Malaysia’s Lost Land and Tunisia’s Oscar-nominated Four Daughters.

Films selected for the 2027 festival could also be considered for inclusion in the distribution catalogue, potentially giving African productions another route to international exposure.

Elise Shick, Malaysian producer, Lost Land (Nativa Award AFF 2027). Picture: Supplied

Alternativa follows a nomadic format, moving to a different region for each edition. The festival began in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2023 before travelling to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2024. Its most recent edition took place in Medellín, Colombia, in 2026.

That event attracted 1 831 film submissions from 55 countries and welcomed approximately 11 000 attendees, alongside 107 international guests and more than 60 partners. Liza Surganova, Head of Alternativa, says the African edition is expected to build on that momentum while creating new opportunities for filmmakers and industry professionals.

The 2027 programme will include public screenings, discussions and other events exploring the social issues raised by participating films. Industry Days will also bring together filmmakers, producers, industry experts and social impact leaders, creating opportunities for networking and potential collaborations.

For filmmakers, these connections could prove just as valuable as the competition itself. Malaysian producer Elise Shick, whose film Lost Land won the Nativa Award at the 2026 festival, says the event has already helped establish international creative partnerships.

Her team has since formed a co-production project involving nine countries, with hopes of screening it as the opening film of the African edition.

How to enter the Alternativa Film Festival 2027

Submissions are now open and can be completed free of charge through the festival’s official website.

• Submission deadline: 1 March 2027
• Festival dates: Late 2027 (exact dates to be announced)
• Location: African host city and country still to be confirmed
• Prize money: $120 000 (approximately R2 million)
• Eligible feature films: Africa, Asia and Latin America
• Eligible short films: African filmmakers only
• Completion date: Films must have been completed after 1 January 2026.
• Eligible formats: Fiction, documentary, animation and hybrid films.

Filmmakers can review the full eligibility requirements, award categories and participating countries before submitting their work.

Applications and further information are available here.

---

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!

---

Also Read:

Alliance Française du Cap keeps French cinema alive in Cape Town

**Picture: **Supplied

The post African filmmakers invited to enter global film festival with R2m in prizes appeared first on Cape Town ETC.