Calls for applications are now open for the 6th edition of the Creative Producer Indaba programme, a 6-month professional development lab for film producers looking to hone their leadership and entrepreneurial ability and build their creative skills. The programme begins in November 2026, starting with an online workshop, followed by two in-person workshops in South Africa and Réunion Island.
Presented by South Africa-based, non-profit Realness Institute in partnership with EAVE, the Creative Producer Indaba is supported by FAPA (Fund for Authors and Producers from Africa), the Brazilian foundation Projeto Paradiso, the Swiss Foundation for professional training in cinema and audiovisual media (FOCAL), and the Austrian Film Institute.
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The Creative Producer Indaba grounds creative development in a professional business framework. Through a series of guest speaker sessions, seminars, one-on-one sessions, and collaborative workshops, the cohort of 10 producers will focus on key areas such as story and creative development, financing and business strategy, festival and market positioning, legal and marketing fundamentals, project and company marketing, network management, and leadership.
Workshop 1 begins on 24 November 2026 (online); Workshop 2 begins on 7 February 2027 (in-person and online); Workshop 3 begins on 3 April 2027 (in-person).
Realness Institute Managing Director and Emmy Award-nominated producer Mehret Mandefro and European Film Academy Award-winning producer Diana Elbaum serve as mentors and group leaders of the programme.
Mehret Mandefro says “Creative Producer Indaba is a leadership and entrepreneurial training program that equips producers with the business skills to become financially sustainable. We help producers figure out their long game so they can stay doing what they love.”
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The programme is open to producers from Africa, with or without an existing project, as well as producers from outside Africa with an interest in co-producing on the continent. It also welcomes film professionals from other disciplines, including distribution, international sales, funding institutions, broadcasting and development with a stake in the African marketplace. Applicant producers must have produced at least one feature fiction film, series or documentary, or a minimum of four short films, as lead or co-producer. Executive, associate, and line producer credits do not qualify, and professionals from other disciplines require a minimum of four years’ experience in their field.
Through funding provided by the Brazilian foundation Projeto Paradiso, the Swiss Foundation for Professional Training in Cinema and Audiovisual Media (FOCAL), and the Austrian Film Institute, one spot each is covered for an applicant from Brazil, Switzerland, and Austria respectively, with expenses for the selected producer covered by the applicable partner organisation.
Applications are currently open and will close on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 (16h00 SAST).
To apply, go to: https://realnessinstitute.com/2026/10/07/creative-producer-indaba-2026-2027-call-for-applications/
For more information, contact submissions@realness.institute
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