The Netflix empowerment fund has opened up R5.5 million in grants to the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective (IBFC) in a bid to help historically disadvantaged students acquire funding and scholarships.
What is the Netflix empowerment fund about?
The world’s leading streaming service partnered with Tshikululu Social Investments, an activism fund manager, to bring about this initiative.
Ben Amadasun, Director of Content for Netflix in Africa, explained that the empowerment fund is a show of intention from the streaming giant “to build capacity in the black filmmaker and practitioner value chain.”
“We recognise that being part of the local creative community in South Africa also comes with responsibilities, in particular the need to develop the talent pipeline and give new voices the chance to be heard. Talent development is extremely important to us and we will continue to work with the industry in South Africa to support and develop new opportunities to grow the creative community,” Amadasun said.
Who qualifies for Netflix empowerment fund?
Netflix’s goal is to create opportunity. As well as to support representation for the historically disadvantaged in South Africa’s Film and TV industry.
This initiative, it’s hoped, will provide a launchpad for struggling creatives of colour.
From what we understand, the fund will be implemented in a two-pronged approach:
- R1.4 million ($100 000) will be funnelled towards providing aid to the IBFC; and
- R4.4 million ($300 000) will be reserved for funding full scholarships at a select number of tertiary institutions.
How to apply for the Netflix fund
Applications for the Netflix empowerment fund can be submitted at Tshikululu’s website.
The deadline is on Sunday 31 October 2021.
The criteria are as follows:
Firstly, the people who should be applying for the scholarship are post-graduates as well as those who are following one-year studies in Film, Television and/or an audio-visual-related qualifications.
Only students of colour, as defined by the B-BBEE Code of Conduct, may apply.
The fund is only open to South African citizens.
You must have completed your undergraduate qualification between 2019 and 2021, as well as, have a minimum average of 60%, to be considered.
The only schools that offer this opportunity are:
- AACA Film and Acting School
- AFDA
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Boston Media House
- University of Johannesburg
- City Varsity
- University of Pretoria
- Durban University of Technology
- University of Cape Town
- Tshwane University of Technology
