23 August, Dakar: In recognition of the power of film to change narratives, Africa No Filter has launched a fund that will provide grants to filmmakers in the final stages of production.

The Last Mile Film Fund wants to influence the conversation about African films and Africa by partnering with storytellers using film to change how the rest of the world sees and engages with Africa.

The Fund will do this by financing productions that stay away from common stereotypes of Africa in movies including crime, corruption, underdeveloped cities and portraying Africans as undereducated and underexposed.

The grant will fund short and feature-length fiction, documentary or animation films at the final stages of production, including post-production activities like editing, visual effects, sound mixing, dubbing, marketing and distribution.

 The launch comes after a series of focus groups that Africa No Filter organised with African filmmakers to discover their experiences of producing in and about Africa. Filmmakers revealed that they face several challenges throughout the film production process. Post-production is often ignored and receives less support than the other film production cycle stages.

 Moky Makura, Executive Director at Africa No Filter, said: “Film has the potential to influence perceptions, and for many people, it represents the way they see the world. It’s why we are supporting film as an important component of pop culture. It’s our hope that the fund will help filmmakers over that last hurdle and get their films out into the world.”

 Grants are worth up to $15,000 for feature-length films and up to $10,000 for short films. The call-out is aimed at post-production activities which can be covered by the grant in full and those that have already raised additional funding. Production companies must also show that they have the authority and capacity to submit the project and hold all the rights in and to the project and its related materials.

 The Fund is open to filmmakers based in the continent and the diaspora, and the project needs to be African-led. Films must challenge a prevailing negative stereotype about or within Africa or reflect a refreshing narrative of the continent, along with a compelling storyline to a broad audience both at the pan-African level and internationally. 

Applications close on 20 September 2022 at 6 pm GMT. Only online applications submitted through Africa No Filter’s website will be accepted. Films must be ready by 31 August 2023.