The African Producers Accelerator (APA), run by South Africa's Big World Cinema in partnership with the Bertha Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF), Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI), and Central Film School, has announced an open call for its second edition in 2026 following a successful pilot year.
The 12-week programme targets mid-career African film producers and offers tailor-made advisory and practical support designed around each producer's specific company and slate. Participants engage in weekly online 1:1 strategy sessions, curated masterclasses, and targeted consultations with leading international industry specialists covering world sales, IP, business affairs, development, and financing.
The programme culminates in a five-day in-person Lab in Cape Town where producers refine their company pitches and slates before presenting to a panel of investors. Participants then attend the Durban FilmMart, where bespoke investor and fund meetings are arranged alongside a private networking dinner with international guests from funds, sales agents, festival programmers, and distributors.
The 2025 pilot cohort included producers whose achievements span winning a BAFTA, premiering at the Venice Film Festival, winning Best Debut Feature at BFI London Film Festival, and major streaming deals. Steven Markovitz, founder of Big World Cinema, noted: "Having produced in more than 30 countries on the continent with local partners, we see many common challenges with very few solutions."
Big World Cinema, established in 1994 and led by Markovitz and Tamsin Ranger, has worked with over 150 producers across Africa. Their productions span 35 African countries with screenings at Cannes, Sundance, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto, and distribution through Netflix, Amazon, Showtime, Mubi, BBC, Canal+, SABC, Showmax, and Channel 4.
Participation is completely free — the cost of attending the Lab and Durban FilmMart is covered by the programme. Applicants must be African citizens living on the continent, proficient in English, working as a producer for 3+ years, and credited with at least one internationally screened feature or TV project. Applications close 5 April 2026.
Source: thebritishblacklist.co.uk