STORY LAbS
“How do you change the story?
You change the storyteller.”
- Noel Kok -
NEWF Executive Director & Founder
| WHAT IS A STORY LAB? |
Focused on the art of crafting a story, Story Labs aim to equip Fellows with essential skills to develop compelling films. Labs & fellowships range from receiving funding to develop & produce films in the conventional Producers’ Labs track, to specialised programmes such as Science Communication, offered under fellowships such as the Wild Science Story Lab and African Science Film Fellowship. Participating Fellows are mentored, attend a series of theoretical and practical workshops facilitated virtually and in-person and join a Pan-African community of like-minded storytellers, conservationists and scientists.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
A year long program supporting filmmakers, conservationists and scientists at various stages in their filmmaking journey. From emerging and early-career filmmakers producing a short film, to more experienced filmmakers developing a feature-length film, the NEWF Producers’ Lab Series is a tiered program offering an opportunity to be awarded grant funding to develop and produce films in the natural history and/or conservation and/or environmental genre of storytelling.
The Kickstarter and Next Chapter streams, offer participating Fellows mentorship by industry professionals where they attend hybrid workshops and are guided through the process of filmmaking from research through to final delivery. The program focuses on all aspects of the filmmaking ecosystem from story development to building the producers skillset in relation to their career trajectory, including a live pitch for shortlisted Next Chapter candidates.
Focused on stories about the Ocean, the Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant is designed for mid-career to experienced filmmakers, offering a development & writing retreat for the producer and director.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED!
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 15 January 2025
For any queries contact storylabs@newf.co.za
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
// Applicants must be over 18 years of age, of ANY African nationality and preferably residing on the continent.
// Kickstarter applications are open to emerging storytellers, scientists and conservationists who have a story to share, including individuals who have worked in areas of the film industry but never produced a film of their own, excluding student films.
// Next Chapter applications are only open to early-career filmmakers who a minimum of 5 -7 years industry experience and have produced at least 2 short films in any genre.
// Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant applications are open mid-career to experienced filmmakers developing a feature-length documentary about the Ocean.
Note on experience vs eligibility: Given the circumstances when facing structural barriers in the industry, we will consider applications that do not necessarily meet the experience criteria directly. However, we expect a clear articulation of why your career trajectory positions you suitable for the grant you are applying for.
More information on each opportunity is detailed below including detailed submission guidelines
Note: All Application Forms are a version of the Non-Fiction Core Application framework.
Kickstarter | Story Producers lab
GRANT: ZAR 75 000.00
Have you always wanted to produce a nature, wildlife or conservation film? Do you have a story to share? Kickstarter applications are open to emerging storytellers, scientists and conservationists, including individuals who have worked in areas of the film industry but never produced a film of their own, excluding student films.
Focused strongly on story development, this is an opportunity to receive grant funding of R 75 000.00 (Approx. USD 3500) to produce an 8-10 minute documentary short film whilst attending hybrid workshops and receiving mentorship throughout the one year program period. These include:
Two (2) in-person workshops (Research & Development and Post-Production)
Two (2) Virtual Workshops (Pre-Production and Impact & Distribution)
Monthly Virtual Hangouts
Fortnightly check-ins with Lab lead
Five (5) Fellows will be accepted into the program and will be invited to present their projects at the 2025 NEWF Congress. The complete films will showcase at the 2026 NEWF Congress.
Only Applications that are submitted through the proposal submission form on our website will be considered. Please do not email your application.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED!
Next Chapter | Creative Producers Pitch
GRANT: ZAR 150 000.00
Produce your next short film in the nature, environment and wildlife genre! Next Chapter applications are only open to African filmmakers with a minimum of 5 - 7 years industry experience and produced at least 2 short films in any genre, including fiction.
This is an opportunity to produce an 8 - 10 minute film with a budget of R 150 000.00 (approx. USD 8 000). Aimed at expanding your ideas and growing your skills, this program will provide mentorship over the period of one year; with a focus on story development and building the producer skillset and business mindset.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to present a live pitch before a panel of judges and audience at the 2025 NEWF Congress where five (5) Fellows will be accepted into the program including:
Two (2) in-person Reviews (Your Vision + Research & Development and Post-Production)
Two (2) Virtual Workshops (The Business of Film and Impact & Distribution)
Monthly Virtual Hangouts
Fortnightly check-ins with Lab lead
Completed films will be showcased at the 2026 NEWF Congress.
Only Applications that are submitted through the proposal submission form on our website will be considered. Please do not email your application.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED!
Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant | Ocean Stories
“It’s about bringing the stories that were never told to us to the people who deserve to hear them” - Takalani Milly Mulaudzi | NEWF Fellow, Mentor & Friend
GRANT: ZAR 250 000.00
A documentary feature film development grant for stories about the ocean.
Applications for the Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant are open to African mid-career to experienced filmmakers who are developing stories about the Ocean and who have produced/directed at least 5 shorts and/or 1 - 2 feature length films.
The selected filmmaker will receive a development grant of R 250 000.00 (approx. USD 15 000) to develop the documentary feature and produce a teaser. The producer and director for the project will also be invited to a development & writing retreat.
A filmography showcasing previous work and impact will be required upon application.
Only applications that are submitted through the proposal submission form on our website will be considered. Please do not email your application.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED!
Humanity has always used stories to explain and comprehend phenomena. Our brains are still wired to be more receptive to narrative structures as a means of sharing knowledge, comprehending facts, evoking emotion and creating meaning.
This is the Power of Story.
— Wambui Waweru, story Labs Lead
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
// GENERAL
Open to African filmmakers and storytellers, incl. writers and journalists, photographers, digital media makers, conservationists and/or scientists.
Applicants must be aged 18 and above.
Note on experience versus eligibility: Given the circumstances when facing structural barriers in the industry, we will consider applications that do not necessarily meet the experience criteria directly. However, we expect a clear articulation of why your career trajectory positions you suitable for the grant you are applying for.
Proposals will be accepted from applicants of any African nationality born and residing on the African continent but preference will be given to applicants from Central Africa as our focus region for 2025.
Applicants to should preferebly be residing on the continent.
Preference will be given to female identifying individuals.
No genre outside of nature, wildlife and/or environmental conservation will be considered.
Applicants are required to submit a written pitch on the application form and propose a documentary concept that is an engaging, innovative and/or inspirational natural history, environmental and/or conservation story.
Applications may be submitted in English, isiZulu, Kiswahili, French or Portuguese.
Proposals should be submitted online ONLY via the website.
Shortlisted candidates must demonstrate evidence of research and that they have acquired underlying rights or life story elements required to produce the short film, including proof of access to locations.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Selected program participants will be required to sign an agreement prior to being officially accepted into the program.
Accepted Fellows are expected to make themselves available for in-person and virtual sessions.
The program takes place over the period of one (1) year.
The grant will be paid out in tranches.
Tranches will be paid out in South African Rands as we are a South African based organisation.
NEWF does not cover the cost of visas to South Africa. Applicants are required to cover the costs of obtaining their own visas and home-country transport, i.e. travel to the airport and back.
// KICKSTARTER | STORY PRODUCERS LAB
Kickstarter applications are open to emerging storytellers, scientists and conservationists who have a story to share, including individuals who have worked in areas of the film industry but never produced a film of their own, excluding student films.
The concept or story must not have been developed or produced by the applicant previously.
The grant funding is a maximum total of R 75 000.00 (Approx. USD 3500) for research, development, production and post production.
No additional funding may be secured.
In-kind sponsorship is allowed.
Films are required to be between 8 and 10 minutes long only.
Only accepted fellows/applicants will be invited to attend NEWF Congress 2025. Any additional team members travel at your own cost.
// NEXT CHAPTER | CREATIVE PRODUCERS PITCH
Next Chapter applications are only open to early-career filmmakers who a minimum of 5 -7 years industry experience and have produced at least 2 short films in any genre.
The concept or story must not have been developed or produced by the applicant previously.
The grant funding is a maximum total of R 150 000.00 (Approx. USD 8000) for research, development, production and post production.
No additional funding may be secured.
In-kind sponsorship is allowed.
Films are required to be between 8 and 10 minutes long only.
Only the applicant will be invited to attend and pitch at NEWF Congress 2025. If you would like another team member to pitch on your behalf, they must travel at your/their cost. (Circumstance-dependent and to be reviewed on a case by case basis.)
// TAKALANI MULAUDZI DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR OCEAN STORIES
Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant applications are open to mid-career to experienced filmmakers developing a feature-length documentary about the Ocean (35-60 minutes).
Applications are limited to non-fiction stories about the ocean and should be for the development of a documentary feature-length film.
A filmography showcasing previous work and impact will be required upon application.
Pan African collaborations/projects are favourable
The grant funding is a maximum total of R 250 000.00 (Approx. USD 15 000)
Additional funding may be sourced but a detailed budget must be provided and motivated.
Only the accepted fellow/applicant will be invited to attend NEWF Congress 2025. Any additional team members travel at your own cost.
WATCH THE TEASERS OF PREVIOUS KICKSTARTER FILMS