The Durban International Film Festival calls for submissions in November each year. Submissions are made through the festivals FilmFreeway page.
While the DIFF premieres films from all over the world, across all its programme sections, only submissions from African countries are accepted for feature fiction and documentary. Films produced outside of Africa, for features and documentaries are solicited.
Section
Form
Length
Submit
Feature
Fiction
Over 60 minutes
African Countries Only
Documentary
Non-Fiction
Over 60 minutes
African Countries Only
Short Film
Fiction & Non-Fiction
Under 60 minutes
All Countries
Student Film
Fiction & Non-Fiction
Under 60 minutes
All Countries
Eligibility
Films must not have been shown on South African television, internet streaming services or shown to a public audience before screening at DIFF.
Films may not be older than 18 months at the time of the festival.
The festival requires a DCP for the exhibition. This is not applicable to student films.
Films where the language is not English, must have English subtitles.
Films for the festival must be submitted by a representative who has the authority to do so.
The director of student films must be enrolled in a tertiary institution during the year that the film is produced and submitted for the festival.
Apply
We open for submissions on 31 October 2024 and close on 31 January 2025.
The programme is curated by Andrea Voges, Festival Manager & Head of Programming. Her advisory committee consists of seventeen industry professionals.
DIFF upholds Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Creativity as guaranteed in Section 16 of the South African Constitution. The festival recognizes that artists may sometimes live and work in States whose values may not always be in accordance with the values of the South African Constitution, but the Centre for Creative Arts commits to protect and advance the rights of any artist who freely chooses to participate in the Centre’s festivals where their voices and artistic expressions can contribute to building a better world for all people.