1. Introduction

The ECDC Pitching Session Competition (“Pitching Session”) is an initiative of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) in partnership with FAME Week Africa and the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (ECPACC).

The Pitching Session aims to identify film and television projects that showcase the Eastern Cape’s locations, talent and production potential, while creating opportunities for producers to present their projects to industry stakeholders.

Projects presented through the Pitching Session may be considered for potential support through the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund. However, participation in the Pitching Session, being shortlisted or being invited to pitch does not constitute an offer or guarantee of funding from ECDC.

Any potential funding remains subject to the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund’s qualifying criteria, assessment and approval processes, due diligence requirements, availability of funds and contracting requirements.

2. Eligibility

To qualify for consideration, applicants must:

• Apply through a registered company or Special Purpose Corporate Vehicle (SPCV).
• Be tax compliant.
• Submit a distribution or commissioning agreement from a reputable industry entity or broadcaster. Short-film applicants must provide a distribution plan.
• Have secured at least 50% of the total project budget.
• Commit to employing Eastern Cape-based filmmakers and/or providing job-shadowing opportunities with Heads of Department during the production phase.
• Provide details of the intended and confirmed sources of funding for the project.
• Allocate at least 60% of the procurement of goods and services to Eastern Cape-based service providers during the production phase.
• Undertake at least 50% of principal photography in the Eastern Cape.
• Spend at least 60% of production expenditure in the Eastern Cape.
• Include a training and skills-transfer programme to be implemented within the Eastern Cape.

Applicants may be required to provide supporting documentation confirming compliance with the above requirements.

3. Eligible Projects

Projects may be submitted across fiction, documentary, animation, pure genre, hybrid or cross-genre categories.

Eligible formats are:

• Feature Film: 90–160 minutes
• Short Documentary: 30 minutes or less
• Short Film: Less than 40 minutes

Genres may include, but are not limited to, crime, comedy, action, horror, romance, war, science fiction, film noir, thriller, western, animation, fiction and documentary.

Hybrid and cross-genre projects, including science-fiction horror, action comedy, romantic comedy, mockumentary, docudrama, dramatised documentary and theatrical documentary, are also eligible.

Projects should demonstrate a meaningful connection to the Eastern Cape through their proposed locations, production activity, expenditure, talent, subject matter and/or economic contribution.

4. Submission Requirements

Each submission must include:

• Project title
• Genre
• Duration
• Premise
• Logline
• Short summary/synopsis
• Treatment
• Script
• Applicant and production company details
• Project budget and financing information
• Distribution or commissioning documentation, or a distribution plan for short films, where applicable
• Any additional documentation or information requested through the official application process

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted correctly and are accessible to the reviewing panel.

Incomplete applications may be excluded from consideration.

5. Submission Deadline

Applications must be submitted through the official online application form by 14 September 2026.

Late submissions may not be considered.

ECDC, ECPACC and FAME Week Africa reserve the right to extend or amend the submission deadline where reasonably necessary.

6. Selection Process

All eligible submissions will be reviewed as part of the selection process.

A shortlist of producers will be selected and invited to participate in the ECDC Pitching Session during FAME Week Africa 2026.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted directly and provided with further information regarding the pitching format, presentation requirements, timing and venue.

Selection as a shortlisted project does not guarantee funding, investment, distribution, commissioning or any other commercial arrangement.

The decision of the selection panel regarding shortlisted projects will be final, subject to any applicable ECDC governance and review requirements.

7. Pitching Session, Accreditation and Travel

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in the official ECDC Pitching Session during FAME Week Africa, taking place from 28–30 October 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa.

FAME Week Africa will provide each shortlisted producer with complimentary accreditation to attend FAME Week Africa 2026, including access to the pitching session and applicable event activities.

Shortlisted applicants are responsible for arranging and covering all costs associated with travelling to and participating in FAME Week Africa, including:

• Flights and/or other transportation to and from Cape Town
• Accommodation
• Local transportation and transfers
• Meals and incidental expenses not included as part of the event
• Any other personal or travel-related expenses

Flights, accommodation and travel-related expenses are not included as part of the complimentary FAME Week Africa accreditation and will not be provided or reimbursed by FAME Week Africa, ECDC or ECPACC.

Applicants should therefore only submit if they are able to attend FAME Week Africa in Cape Town at their own cost should they be shortlisted.

Pitching dates, times, duration, format and presentation requirements will be communicated directly to shortlisted applicants.

8. Funding and the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund

The ECDC Pitching Session provides shortlisted producers with an opportunity to present their projects to ECDC and relevant industry stakeholders.

Being shortlisted, participating in the Pitching Session or presenting a project to the panel does not guarantee that the project will receive funding from ECDC or the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund.

Projects presented during the Pitching Session may be identified for further consideration for potential funding through the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund.

Any potential funding will remain subject to:

• Meeting all applicable Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund qualifying criteria.
• ECDC’s assessment and approval processes.
• Verification and due diligence.
• Availability of funding.
• Any applicable contracting and compliance requirements.
• Final approval by ECDC.

Participation in the Pitching Session, positive feedback from the panel, being shortlisted or being identified as a successful pitch must not be interpreted as an offer, commitment or guarantee of funding from ECDC.

Applicants should not incur expenditure, commence production or enter into financial commitments on the assumption that ECDC funding will be awarded.

9. Intellectual Property

Applicants must own or control the necessary rights to the project and all materials submitted or have the necessary authority and permissions to submit them.

By entering, applicants confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, their submission does not infringe the copyright, intellectual property, privacy or other rights of any third party.

Ownership of the project and all underlying intellectual property remains with the applicant and/or relevant rights holder.

Submission of a project does not transfer ownership of intellectual property to ECDC, ECPACC, FAME Week Africa or their respective partners.

10. Confidentiality and Submission Materials

Applicants acknowledge that submitted project materials will need to be shared with individuals involved in administering, reviewing and adjudicating the Pitching Session.

Submitted materials may therefore be accessed by authorised representatives of ECDC, ECPACC, FAME Week Africa and appointed reviewers or adjudicators for the purposes of evaluating the application.

Applicants should not submit confidential information they are not authorised to disclose.

Where a pitch takes place in a public or industry-facing environment, applicants acknowledge that information presented during the pitch may be heard or viewed by attendees and should structure their presentations accordingly.

11. Publicity and Promotion

Shortlisted applicants agree that their name, company name, project title, project description, photographs and other approved project information may be used by ECDC, ECPACC and FAME Week Africa for reasonable promotional and publicity purposes relating to the Pitching Session and FAME Week Africa.

Applicants may be photographed, filmed or recorded during the Pitching Session. Reasonable extracts from this material may be used for event reporting, marketing, publicity and promotional purposes.

Such use does not transfer ownership of the applicant’s underlying project or intellectual property to ECDC, ECPACC or FAME Week Africa.

12. Accuracy of Information

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all information supplied as part of their submission is accurate, complete and truthful.

ECDC, ECPACC and/or FAME Week Africa may request supporting documentation, verification or clarification at any stage of the process.

An application may be disqualified if information is found to be materially false, misleading or fraudulent, or if the applicant does not meet the stated eligibility requirements.

13. Changes, Withdrawal or Cancellation

ECDC, ECPACC and FAME Week Africa reserve the right to amend the format, dates, selection process, pitching requirements or administration of the Pitching Session where reasonably necessary.

They also reserve the right not to shortlist or select a project where submissions do not meet the required eligibility criteria or assessment standards.

Where material changes are made, reasonable efforts will be made to communicate these changes to affected applicants.

If a shortlisted applicant is unable to attend the Pitching Session, FAME Week Africa and ECDC reserve the right to withdraw the invitation and offer the pitching opportunity to another project.

14. Data Protection

Personal information submitted as part of the application process will be used for the administration, assessment and communication of the ECDC Pitching Session Competition and related programme activities.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable South African data-protection requirements, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

15. Acceptance of Terms & Conditions

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms that:

• They have read, understood and accepted these Terms & Conditions.
• They meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
• They are authorised to submit the project and associated materials.
• The information supplied is accurate to the best of their knowledge.
• They understand that being shortlisted or invited to pitch does not guarantee funding from ECDC or the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund.
• They understand that FAME Week Africa will provide complimentary accreditation to shortlisted producers, but flights, accommodation, transportation and other travel-related expenses are for the participant’s own account.
• They agree to comply with the rules and requirements of the ECDC Pitching Session Competition.

Submission of an application constitutes acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.