Four African filmmakers collaborate across four countries on one short film
Following the individual filmmakers writing their own part, the group will collaborate to make it into a whole film. They will then shoot and edit their own section in their home country.
By CityLife Arts Writer
Four award-winning filmmakers from four African countries have been selected for NEFTi 441, a ground-breaking collaborative challenge to create one 20-minute narrative film that supports emerging filmmakers, and unites people through the power of storytelling and artistic expression.
Each filmmaker will be given $3,000 and randomly assigned a number from 1 to 4. Filmmaker 1 will choose the story and write the first five minutes; filmmakers 2 and 3 will each continue the storyline; and Filmmaker 4 will complete the story and write the ending.
Following the individual filmmakers writing their own part, the group will collaborate to make it into a whole film. They will then shoot and edit their own section in their home country. Because the film will be shot without music and with a consistent flat visual profile, one editor will oversee the final full edit and post-production, including color correction, while another creative will oversee the score and sound. Total project expense is estimated at $14,000.
The final 20-minute film will premiere at Durban FilmMart in October 2026.
NEFTi 441 (Four for One) is the latest iteration of the NEFTi Film Competition, which was established to discover, develop and showcase up-and-coming filmmakers from emerging economies around the world. The NEFTi 441 filmmakers — Moreetsi Gabang of Botswana, Henry Joe Sakala of Zambia, Nivolla Musaka of Kenya, and Cheyi Okoaye of Nigeria — are all alumni of the competition.
To date, the NEFTi Competition has provided more than $60,000 in film funding and more than $40,000 in prize money to filmmakers. NEFTi filmmakers have showcased their work at festivals and competitions, earning honors including best short and best director. They have also used their NEFTi success to advance their professional growth through launchpad programs, filmmaking panels, screenplay retreats, and content pickups by Showmax and Canal+.
“It’s been amazing to watch these four filmmakers from different countries and cultures work together to create one piece,” said Paul Robinson, Founder and Coordinator of the NEFTi Competition projects. “There is so much underrepresented talent on the African continent, and it’s been truly inspiring to work with such creative and professional filmmakers.”
NEFT and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (“IEFTA”) joined forces to create NEFT Emerging Film Talent International (“NEFTI”), a groundbreaking competition established to discover, develop and showcase up-and-coming filmmakers from emerging economies around the world.