1. Promoters and Partners
The Inclusive Lens Pitching Competition (“the Competition”) is presented by DAWN, in partnership with FAME Week Africa (“the Promoter”) and NFVF (“the Funder”).
Participation in the Competition constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
2. Purpose
The Competition aims to identify, support and create meaningful industry opportunities for filmmakers and screen storytellers with disabilities.
It is designed to connect selected filmmakers with industry decision-makers, development support, mentorship, potential funders, producers and distribution partners.
The Competition seeks to demonstrate the artistic and commercial potential of projects created by filmmakers with disabilities while supporting greater inclusion and equitable participation across the audiovisual industry.
Projects do not need to focus on disability. Entrants are encouraged to submit bold, original ideas across any genre, subject matter or format.
3. Eligibility
To enter, applicants must:
● Be 18 years of age or older at the closing date.
● Be a citizen or permanent resident of South Africa.
● Identify as a filmmaker or screen storyteller with a disability.
● Be the creator, co-creator, writer, director or producer of the submitted project.
● Have the authority to submit and pitch the project.
● Be available to participate in the selection process, mentorship programme and final pitching session.
● Be available to attend FAME Week Africa should they be selected for the relevant opportunities.
● Inform the Promoters of any reasonable accessibility support required to participate in the Competition.
4. Eligible Projects
Applicants may submit an original project in the following genres or formats:
● Feature films including documentary or animation
● Television or online series including documentary or animation
● Documentary films or series
Projects may be at concept, development or early packaging stage.
There is no requirement for the project to address disability, inclusion or representation. The Competition supports the filmmaker and their creative voice rather than prescribing the subject matter of the project.
Projects that have already been fully produced or commercially released are not eligible.
5. How to Enter
Applicants must complete the official application form and submit:
● A filmmaker biography.
● A one-page project pitch which includes:
A project title and format.
A short logline.
A brief synopsis.
A description of the intended audience.
● A one page filmmaker’s statement, about why the applicant wishes to develop/is producing the project.
● Any additional supporting material requested in the official entry form.
Supporting materials may include a treatment, visual references, pitch deck, proof of concept, teaser or previous work, but these will only be required where specified.
All submissions must be made before the published closing date.
Late, incomplete, misleading or fraudulent applications may be disqualified.
6. Accessibility of the Application Process
The Promoters are committed to making the Competition as accessible as reasonably possible.
Applicants may request reasonable accommodations during the application, selection, mentorship and pitching stages.
Applicants are encouraged to communicate their accessibility requirements as early as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be considered.
The availability of specific accommodations may depend on operational feasibility, available resources and funding.
7. Selection and Judging
Eligible submissions will be assessed by a panel of industry professionals appointed by the Promoters.
Judges will consider:
● Originality and creativity.
● Strength of the central idea.
● Storytelling potential.
● Clarity of the filmmaker’s vision.
● Understanding of the intended audience.
● Artistic and commercial potential.
● Feasibility of further development.
● The applicant’s passion, commitment and readiness to engage with the development process.
● The overall potential of the project to progress within the industry.
A project will not receive preference solely because it addresses disability-related themes.
The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding individual scores, feedback or selection outcomes.
8. Selection of Finalists
Following the evaluation of eligible entries, up to five finalists may be selected to participate in the mentorship and pitching stages of the Competition.
The Promoters reserve the right to select fewer than five finalists should the judging panel determine it.
The Promoters may also identify reserve finalists should a selected finalist be unable to participate.
9. Finalist Responsibilities
Selected finalists will be expected to:
● Participate in scheduled mentorship and development sessions ahead of the live pitch.
● Work with assigned mentors to refine their project and pitch.
● Provide requested materials by the stated deadlines.
● Participate in a live pitching session.
● Conduct themselves professionally and respectfully.
● Inform the Promoters promptly of any accessibility or participation requirements.
Failure to participate in required activities without reasonable notice or explanation may result in disqualification.
10. FAME Week Africa Access
Selected finalists will receive access to:
● FAME Week Africa.
● Industry meetings, networking opportunities or pitching activities linked to these
The number and type of accreditations, dates, programme access and other benefits will be communicated directly to the selected participants.
The Funder will provide - within reason:
● Flights or other transport.
● Accommodation.
● Accessibility support costs.
● Fees for assistants, support persons or interpreters.
The following is not covered:
● Meals.
● Personal expenses.
Any travel or attendance support will be agreed directly with the Funder. We will discuss these aspects with each finalist.
Access is subject to the rules, registration requirements and codes of conduct of FAME Week Africa.
11. Awards and Partner Support
The winning filmmaker(s) will receive a combination of development support, consultations, services, industry access and other benefits secured from Competition partners and sponsors.
The final package may vary depending on confirmed partner contributions and will be announced in due course. It includes a cash award from NFVF, script/story consultation with Story Oasis, and production/budget consultation with Both Worlds.
Awards and services:
● Are not transferable.
● May not be exchanged for alternative services or cash unless expressly permitted.
● May be subject to separate agreements with the relevant partner or service provider.
● Must be used within any specified period.
● Are subject to the capacity and availability of participating partners.
The Promoters are not responsible for the fulfilment of third-party awards beyond taking reasonable steps to coordinate with the relevant partner.
13. Intellectual Property
Applicants retain ownership of their original projects and submitted materials.
By entering, applicants grant the Promoters and Competition partners a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use submitted materials solely for:
● Administering and judging the Competition.
● Facilitating mentorship and industry introductions.
● Promoting the Competition and its selected participants.
● Reporting on the Competition’s outcomes.
This licence may include the use of project titles, loglines, short excerpts, filmmaker biographies, photographs and recordings of the pitching session.
No project may be produced, commissioned, acquired, adapted or commercially exploited without a separate written agreement with the relevant rights holder.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their submissions do not infringe the intellectual property, privacy or contractual rights of any third party.
14. Confidentiality
While the Promoters will take reasonable care in managing submitted materials, applicants acknowledge that a pitching competition involves sharing project information with judges, mentors, partners and industry professionals.
Applicants should not submit confidential information that is unnecessary for evaluating the project.
The Promoters cannot guarantee that similar ideas, themes or concepts do not already exist or may not be independently developed by another party.
Participation in the Competition does not create a confidential, fiduciary or business relationship between the applicant and any judge, mentor, sponsor or partner.
15. Publicity and Recording
Finalists agree to participate in reasonable publicity relating to the Competition.
This may include:
● Interviews.
● Photography.
● Video and audio recording.
● Social media content.
● Press releases.
● Event coverage.
● Publication of names, biographies, project titles and loglines.
Live or digital pitching sessions may be photographed, recorded or streamed.
Any use of project material for commercial purposes outside the promotion and documentation of the Competition will require a separate agreement.
16. Personal Information
Personal information will be processed in accordance with applicable data-protection legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act.
Information will be used for purposes including:
● Administering the Competition.
● Confirming eligibility.
● Communicating with applicants.
● Arranging accessibility support.
● Facilitating judging and mentorship.
● Promoting finalists and winners.
● Reporting to relevant partners and sponsors.
Information relating to a person’s disability or accessibility requirements will be treated sensitively and shared only where reasonably necessary to facilitate participation.
17. Disqualification
The Promoters may disqualify an applicant who:
● Provides false or misleading information.
● Submits plagiarised or unauthorised material.
● Does not own or control the necessary rights to the project.
● Attempts to manipulate the judging process.
● Fails to comply with these Terms and Conditions.
● Fails to participate in required activities without reasonable explanation.
● Engages in discriminatory, abusive, threatening or inappropriate conduct.
● Brings the Competition or any partner into disrepute.
Where reasonably possible, an applicant will be given an opportunity to clarify or correct an issue before disqualification.
18. No Guarantee of Funding or Production
Selection as a finalist or winner does not guarantee:
● Project funding.
● Development finance.
● Production.
● Commissioning.
● Distribution.
● Acquisition.
● Representation.
● Employment.
Any future commercial relationship arising from the Competition will be subject to separate negotiations and written agreements between the relevant parties.
19. Changes, Postponement or Cancellation
The Promoters reserve the right to amend, postpone, suspend or cancel the Competition where circumstances beyond their reasonable control make this necessary.
Where possible, applicants will be notified of significant changes.
The Promoters may also replace a partner, mentor, judge, award or service with a reasonably comparable alternative where the original benefit becomes unavailable.
20. Limitation of Liability
To the extent permitted by law, the Promoters and participating partners will not be liable for:
● Lost, delayed, corrupted or incomplete applications.
● Technical failures.
● Unauthorised access to submitted materials.
● Travel delays or cancellations.
● Costs incurred by applicants in entering or participating.
● Decisions made by judges, mentors, funders or industry partners.
● The non-fulfilment of a third-party service or award.
● Any indirect or consequential loss arising from participation.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
21. Acceptance of Terms
By submitting an application, applicants confirm that they:
● Have read and understood these Terms and Conditions.
● Meet the eligibility requirements.
● Have the necessary rights and authority to submit the project.
● Consent to the processing of their information for the administration of the Competition.
● Agree to comply with all reasonable Competition requirements.