Call for entries: Africa in Motion

The aim of the Africa in Motion short film and documentary competitions is to nurture and support young and new filmmakers from all over the African continent, in the knowledge that making films can be a real challenge and with hope that the cash prize will be invested in future projects by the filmmaker.

A high profile jury of local and international film specialists and established African filmmakers will choose the competition winners, which will be announced during this year’s festival, set to take place between 28 October - 6 November, in Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland.

Filmmakers of African nationality are invited to submit short films of no longer than 30 minutes and/or documentary films of 30 minutes or more.

The deadline for entries is 1 July 2016 for the short film competition and the documentary competition. A substantial cash prize will be awarded to the winner of each competition strand.

Filmmakers who enter must not have made a feature-length film previously. All short films must have been completed in 2014 or after. All genres are welcome (including fiction, documentary, animation and experimental work).

Following the success of its annual short film competition, Africa in Motion launched the documentary film competition in 2015. Documentaries submitted must also have been completed in 2014 or after and all themes within the genre are welcome too.

Shortlisted short films and documentaries will be announced in August and screened during the festival. Each competition has its own high-profile jury of local and international film specialists and African filmmakers, to be announced shortly.

In addition to the overall winner chosen by the jury, an Audience Choice Award will be given for each competition strand and announced at the closing of the festival.

Both competitions are free to enter and aim to support young and new film talent from the African continent, with the hope that the prize will be invested in future projects by the filmmaker.

Africa in Motion was founded in 2006 by African film scholar Dr Lizelle Bisschoff, and is now preparing for its 11th set in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It aims to bring African cinema to Scottish audiences, and overcome the under-representation of African films in British film-going culture. The festival’s programme will be announced in September 2016.

Entry details: submit a film; full guidelines.