NEWF Kickstarter Story Producers' Lab Is Supporting a New Cohort of Emerging Nature Storytellers
eKhaya Storytelling, Research and Dive Centre | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) recently inducted and hosted a new cohort of their Kickstarter Producers’ Lab. The program supports emerging storytellers, scientists, and conservationists with grant of ZAR 75,000.00 (Approx. USD 3,500) to produce an 8-10 minute documentary short film.
Focused on equipping Fellows with essential skills to develop compelling films, the Kickstarter Story Producers’ Lab is a one-year hybrid program featuring in-person labs and workshops, virtual workshops, hybrid mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities within a vibrant and richly diverse community.
ROW 1: Nada Abdelkadar, Dorine Were, Eystein Young Dingha.
ROW 2: Gwantwa Lucas Mwakalinga, Ghofrane El Abyadh, Ridwan Adeniyi Abdullateef, Dr. Teresa Mbatia.
“I’m diving into the incredible world of documentary filmmaking to share untold African-Tunisian stories that truly deserve to be seen and heard!
As a scientist, stepping into filmmaking was a big leap for me—but my dream of showcasing the richness of our land pushed me to take the plunge.”
7 Fellows were selected for the 2025/2026 Kickstarter chapter, including 3 pitch winners from the second edition of the NEWF x AFRIFF Pitch which highlighted the exceptional creativity and talent of African filmmakers dedicated to amplifying the continent’s natural history through community-inclusive storytelling.
The program structure includes 2 in-person workshops focusing on Research and Development, and Post-Production; as well as 2 virtual workshops covering Pre-Production, and Impact and Distribution strategies, and monthly virtual hangouts and regular one-on-one check-ins with lab leads to guide project development.
Together, these talented fellows represent the elevation of African voices in impact storytelling. Documentaries like theirs are critical to sharing Africa’s natural and cultural heritage through the nuanced, local perspectives.
For more information about NEWF, eKhaya Storytelling, Research and Dive Centre or the current/next Kickstarter Chapter please connect with us via connect@newf.co.za
ABOUT NEWF
Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) is a platform dedicated to growing a representative and inclusive community of African conservation content creators. Through training, mentorship, funding, and internship programmes, NEWF empowers emerging filmmakers, scientists, and storytellers to bring African perspectives to global environmental narratives.
ABOUT AFRIFF
The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is a world-class showcase that celebrates Cinema and filmmaking talent from Africa and the diaspora. The festival fosters invaluable exchanges of ideas, production connections, and business relationships. It creates an energetic and exciting hub for entertainment industry professionals to make rewarding connections and skill acquisitions through organised capacity development workshops.
