The Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF) has announced its first open call for submissions, inviting African and African diasporan filmmakers to apply for script development grants. The initiative aims to spotlight bold, authentic storytelling that redefines global perceptions of Africa and its descendants.
Eligible projects must be narrative feature films or episodic series with a strong African connection, led by African creatives, and have at least 50% of production, such as principal photography, based on the continent. Submissions must also demonstrate commercial viability, global appeal, and alignment with NNAF’s social impact themes.
Applications will be reviewed by the Fund’s Greenlight Committee starting in August, with selected projects to be announced in December. Grant recipients may also be considered for future equity investment from the Fund.
“We’re seeking visionary stories that reshape how Africa is seen and experienced globally,” said Akunna Cook, NNAF Founder and CEO, and former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. “This initiative supports the profitability of African content and the ecosystem needed for creators to thrive.”
The Greenlight Committee is chaired by Darcy Heusel, former SVP of Artists, Culture and Partnerships at NEON. “Now is the moment to champion a new generation of African storytellers,” Heusel said. “We want to push the boundaries of what African content can be and reflect the full richness of the continent’s creative talent.”
Application Deadline: August 1, 2025 (11:59 PM)
Apply: nextnarrativeafricafund.com/pitch
Info Webinar: Monday, July 14 – 11:00 AM EDT | 6:00 PM EAT
Register: [Webinar Registration Link]
The Next Narrative Africa Fund is a $40 million content and media fund dedicated to investing in commercially viable audio-visual projects made in Africa by African and African diasporan creators. The Fund champions ownership, sustainability, and global visibility for African stories.
For more information:
General inquiries: submissions@nextnarrativeafrica.com
