This program is a collaboration of members of the East Africa Screen Collective (EASC) with DW Akademie on the program ”DW Akademie Film Development Fund”. The rationale for the EAccelerate Fund is to put management and program design of capacity building tools for the African screen sector into the hands of Africans and African organisations. It is a decolonising approach in rethinking financing and sectoral partnerships on the continent. With the conviction that the ownership of the program should lie in East Africa, the “DW Akademie Film Development Fund” will be merged into the “EAccelerate Fund” and managed by Documentary Africa (DocA) on behalf of the EASC.

In 2024, the program will focus on supporting the alumni of the “DW Akademie Film Development Fund” through funding and training in the development of proof of concepts/short films from their previously developed projects.

The EAccelerate Fund 2025 is now accepting applications from East African filmmakers looking to bring their short film ideas to life. This fund is designed to provide support, funding, and mentorship to filmmakers from East Africa to create high-quality short films with regional and international visibility.

Selected teams will receive up to €20,000 in funding, alongside access to expert mentorship to develop their films from concept to completion. Additionally, selected films will have the opportunity for regional screenings, with a potential to screen internationally.

Key Details:

• Director and Producer must both be East African.

• Open to filmmakers from Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Comoros, Mauritius, or Madagascar.

• Films should not exceed 20 minutes in duration.

• 80% of the film must be shot in East Africa.

• The final film must be completed by December 1st, 2025.

• Selected films must be open to screening regionally or internationally.

If you have a unique story to tell and a passion for filmmaking, apply today.

Deadline: 21st July 2025