CREATIVE PRODUCER INDABA (Realness Institute)
The Creative Producer Indaba (CPI) is a six-month professional development fellowship for independent film producers, now in its 5th edition (2025–2026). It is a collaboration between the GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN FILM & SERIES MAKERS | 2025/2026 EDITION | Updated March 2026 Compiled March 2026 directed by Cati Weinek with Fab Claude.. Always verify deadlines and eligibility on official programme websites before applying. Realness Institute and EAVE (Europe’s leading producer training body), the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (FIFOI), and Maison du Cinéma et des Jeux Vidéo, with financial support from Région Réunion (France). Its funding coalition is exceptional: Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, FOCAL (Switzerland), the Austrian Film Institute, the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC), and Institut français Création Africa. It is the only programme in this guide specifically designed for producers rather than writers or directors, and accepts producers with or without a project. The 5th edition is notable because all three workshops take place within Africa and the Indian Ocean region — a deliberate shift to root the programme on African soil. Screen International covered the 5th cohort announcement in December 2025. For Films, Series, or Docs? Producers may apply with a project in any format: feature fiction, episodic series, or feature documentary at any stage of development or production. Producers may also apply without a project. This is the only programme in this guide for producers, not writers.
Deadline
5th edition currently underway (November 2025–April 2026). NEXT CYCLE (6th edition): Based on the annual pattern, call expected to open August–September 2026, with applications closing October 2026, for a programme running November 2026–April 2027. Watch realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba.
Cost
Application fee: 500 ZAR (approximately EUR 25–28 / USD 27–30). Only applications with a paid submission fee will be reviewed. Programme costs for selected participants (workshops, accommodation during residencies) are substantially covered by funders. Due to FOCAL’s partnership, one place is available free of charge to a Swiss producer.
Eligibility
Three applicant categories: (1) Producers from Africa and the Indian Ocean, with or without a project; (2) Producers from outside Africa with active interest in co-producing African content; (3) African and Indian Ocean film professionals from other disciplines (distribution, international sales, funding bodies, broadcasters, development executives) with at least 2 years’ experience. Must have produced at least one feature fiction film, a series, or a documentary; or a minimum of two short films. For documentary projects: treatment plus 5–10 minutes of rushes or a sizzle reel required at application. Track Record 5th edition (2025–2026) cohort of 15 includes producers from Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia/USA, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and others. Notable alumni include: Ephraim Gordon (South Africa), producer of Barakat — South Africa’s submission to the Academy Awards international feature category (2022); and Vanessa Sinden (Triggerfish Animation), producer on the Netflix-distributed Seal Team. EAVE CEO Kristina Trapp noted: “Seeing the latest success stories of the Indaba alumni at A-list festivals and GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN FILM & SERIES MAKERS | 2025/2026 EDITION | Updated March 2026 Compiled March 2026 directed by Cati Weinek with Fab Claude.. Always verify deadlines and eligibility on official programme websites before applying. in the creation of networks on the continent is a strong sign of the impact of the programme.” Its funders — spanning France, Switzerland, Canada, Austria, Brazil, and Reunion — make it one of the most internationally supported African screen development programmes in existence.
What You Get
Three intensive workshops over six months combining online and in-person sessions. 5th edition structure: Workshop 1 — online (November 2025); Workshop 2 — in-person, Johannesburg, South Africa (February 2026); Workshop 3 — in-person, Saint-Paul, Réunion Island, during FIFOI (April 2026). Content covers project development, project planning, financing structures, legal frameworks, PR and marketing, advocacy and lobbying, organisational development, network management, and leadership. Plenary sessions, collaborative group workshops, and individual sessions with mentors and guest experts. Access to the Realness Institute alumni network, EAVE’s global producer network, and connections from all funding partners. Group leaders include Mehret Mandefro (Managing Director, Realness), Belgian producer Diana Elbaum, and story consultant Tracey Lee Rainers.
Watch realness.institute from August–2026 for the 6th CPI call to open. Deadline typically October 2026. Note: the 500 ZAR application fee must be paid at the time of submission — only paid applications are reviewed. PART SIX: DURBAN FILMMART (DFM) — SOUTH AFRICAN PROGRAMMES The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) runs a suite of dedicated development and training programmes for African filmmakers. All five programmes below are based in South Africa, are free to apply, and are managed by the same organisation. Monitor durbanfilmmart.co.za for all calls. Deadlines below are based on historical patterns — always verify on the official website before applying.
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