The EAccelerate Fund 2025 is now accepting applications from East African filmmakers looking to bring their short film ideas to life. This fund is designed to provide support, funding, and mentorship to filmmakers from East Africa to create high-quality short films with regional and international visibility.
When is the Application Deadline:
📅 21st July 2025
Tell Me About the Award:
The EAccelerate Fund 2025 is a grant program for East African filmmakers, designed to support the creation of short films with strong regional and international visibility. A successor of the DW Akademie Film Development Fund, this initiative is now fully African-led and managed by Documentary Africa (DocA) on behalf of the East Africa Screen Collective (EASC).
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It supports short film development by providing financial support and mentorship to selected teams of filmmakers from East Africa. The program is built on a decolonizing vision that promotes local ownership and cultural authenticity.
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Which Fields are Eligible?
🎬 Short Film Production – Focused on creative, narrative, or documentary short films.
Type:
🎥 Film Development Grant & Mentorship Program
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must:
- Be a team consisting of a Director and Producer, both of whom must be East African nationals
- Have a short film idea (20 minutes max) ready to develop
- Be willing to complete the film by December 1, 2025
- Ensure that 80% of the film is shot within East Africa
- Be open to regional and international screenings
How are Applicants Selected?
Selections will be made based on:
- Strength and originality of the short film idea
- Artistic and storytelling potential
- The team’s readiness and capacity to deliver the film
- Alignment with the program’s goal to amplify East African voices
Grantees may also be supported in finding a producer if they do not have one.
Which Countries Are Eligible?
Open to filmmakers from the following East African countries:
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Comoros
- Mauritius
- Madagascar
Where will the Award be Taken?
🎥 Projects must be produced and filmed in East Africa, with at least 80% of filming taking place in the region.
How Many Awards?
The number of grantees is not fixed, but in 2024, four filmmakers were selected. A similar number or more is expected for 2025.
What is the Benefit of the Award?
💶 Up to €20,000 in funding per selected film team
🎓 Access to expert mentorship and capacity-building support
🌍 Opportunities for regional and international screenings
🤝 Networking and collaboration with professionals in the East African film sector
How Long Will the Award Last?
The selected films must be completed by December 1, 2025, within a development and production window of a few months after selection.
How to Apply:
📥 Apply online through the official application portal.
👉 Click HERE to Apply
