CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 46TH DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) invites filmmakers to submit their films for consideration to participate in the festival, set to take place from 17 to 27 July 2025. The submission period begins with discounted submission fees, which ends on 19 December 2024.
DIFF is an Oscar Qualifying Festival and is regarded as a leading film festival in Africa. It is presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Founded in 1979, it is the oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa, presenting over one hundred screenings, all of which are premieres in this region. The Head of Programming and Festival Manager, Andrea Voges, was listed by Screen International as one of the 25 Future Leaders: Programmers and Curators to Watch – “profiling the people who are already influential in their fields and destined to rule the business in years to come”.
We consider films completed after January 2024, and which would not publicly screen or be available online in South Africa before DIFF 2025.
Submissions are now open and close on 31 January 2025. Films can be submitted in the following categories.
Feature Films
African fictional films, 60 minutes and over. Non-African submissions will be solicited.
Documentaries
African documentaries, 60 minutes and over. Non-African submissions will be solicited.
Short Films
Fictional and non-fiction films under 60 minutes. Open to all countries.
Student Films
Fictional and non-fiction films under 60 minutes. Open to all countries.
The film director must be enrolled in a tertiary institution during the year that the film was produced.
Submit Your Film
Additional information about eligibility, regulations and submission fees are available here – https://filmfreeway.com/DurbanFilmFest
All submissions are subjected to a submission fee based on the following deadlines:
Early Bird Deadline – 19 December 2024
| Â | Standard | Filmfreeway Gold Member |
Features | $17 | $15 |
Documentaries | $12 | $10 |
Short Films | $7 | $6 |
Student Films | $6 | $5 |
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Regular Deadline – 31 January 2025
| Â | Standard | Filmfreeway Gold Member |
Features | $22 | $18 |
Documentaries | $17 | $15 |
Short Films | $12 | $10 |
Student Films | $8 | $7 |
 The festival also offers workshops, seminars, and outreach activities that include screenings in township areas where cinemas do not exist.Â
Please ensure that you read the Rules and Terms before submitting a film. If you have any questions, please email di**@uk**.zaÂ
