Movies That Matter and the NEFTi International Short Film Competition are teaming up on a new initiative aimed at supporting displaced filmmakers living in the European diaspora and across Africa, the organizations announced during the festival’s 23 March programme «Take on Displaced Filmmakers» in The Hague.
The partnership will launch the 2026 NEFTi Competition, designed to identify and back emerging directors whose work is shaped by experiences of migration and exile. According to the announcement, the program is open to displaced filmmakers based in Europe and Africa who have not yet directed a feature. Ten selected participants will pitch short film concepts over Zoom to an international jury. Three finalists will each receive $3,000 to produce a six- to ten-minute short within 30 days.
The completed films will screen this fall, with one project receiving a $5,000 Grand Prize. An additional $2,000 Viewer’s Choice Award will be decided through an online audience vote. Applications are set to open in May via the NEFTi Competition website.
NEFTi has previously focused on filmmakers from the Global South, including Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, with past editions held alongside industry events such as Berlinale/EFM and Durban FilmMart.
