Durban, South Africa – The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) has opened submissions for its 46th edition, set to take place from July 17 to 27, 2025. Recognized as a prominent Oscar-qualifying festival, DIFF invites filmmakers to submit their works for screening in Southern Africa’s largest film festival, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Filmmakers can submit films in categories including feature films, documentaries, short films, and student films. Films must have been completed after January 2024 and must not have been publicly screened or available online in South Africa before the festival. An early bird deadline of December 19, 2024, offers discounted submission fees, with the final submission deadline on January 31, 2025.
DIFF screens over a hundred regional premieres each year and includes a lineup of workshops, seminars, and outreach screenings in communities without access to cinemas. Led by Head of Programming Andrea Voges, the festival remains a vital platform for new voices in African cinema. Voges, recently named one of “25 Future Leaders” by Screen International, curates DIFF’s programming to reflect emerging trends in film and storytelling across Africa.
Early bird submission fees for non-members start at $17 for feature films, $12 for documentaries, $7 for short films, and $6 for student films, with fees increasing after December 19. Detailed guidelines are available on DIFF’s official FilmFreeway page, with inquiries directed to [email protected]. Updates on festival programming are also shared on DIFF’s social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
