SMARTPHONE SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Small Screens, Big Stories!
Are you a local – professional, semi professional, amateur – filmmaker with a powerful story to tell? Here’s your chance to shine!
The European Union Film Festival is around the corner, and we’re inviting local filmmakers to submit their short movie for a chance to be featured alongside acclaimed works from across Europe. This is your moment to share your vision, creativity, and voice with a wide and diverse audience.
What we’re looking for:
- Short films with a strong, clear, and compelling story
- High production quality and high-resolution format
- Original, thought-provoking, or uplifting content that reflects your unique perspective
Whether you’re an emerging talent or a seasoned creator, this festival is a fantastic platform to showcase your work, gain recognition, and connect with fellow storytellers, industry professionals, and documentary lovers from around the globe.
Why submit?
- Your documentary could be screened as part of an esteemed international festival
- Exposure to a wide audience, including potential collaborators and mentors
- A chance to be celebrated for your contribution to the local and global film landscape
Criterias and rules for filmmakers
- The theme of the competition is “Through fiction, tell us a story of what the European Union means to EmaSwati”
- Open to all from 18 to 35 years old emaswati citizens.
- Call will be open from the 15th of February to the 30th of April 2026 (deadline to submit the productions)
- All films must be shot using a smartphone.
- Participation in the competition is free of charge.
- Only one film per participant will be accepted.
- Films must not exceed 3 minutes, including credits.
- Only fictions are accepted, related to the competition’s theme.
- Any software or app may be used for editing, post-production, or image processing.
- External devices may be used for audio recording.
- Films may be in English, siSwati, or any other language, provided they include English subtitles.
- Films can be submitted on a USB stick or be sent electronically to culture@afmbabane.org and director@afmbabane.org (wetransfer, google drive)
- In all cases, a registration form must be completed and the general terms and conditions must be read and accepted. This form may be completed online here.
- The film must be the participant’s original work and must not have been previously published or distributed in any form.
- The work must not infringe on copyright, trademarks, privacy, publicity, or any other personal or property rights of any individual or entity.
- The participant must have the permission of all individuals appearing in the film, and all individuals must be informed of their participation in the competition.
- Any issue arising from a copyright infringement is the sole responsibility of the participant. The Organizer will not be held liable for any copyright violation.
- It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary permits have been obtained for the production of the film.
- The participant agrees to grant the Organizer a free, non-exclusive, and unlimited license to use and broadcast the submitted work online for non-commercial informational and promotional purposes.
- Any submission deemed defamatory or discriminatory at the discretion of the Organizer will be disqualified.
- The participant agrees to indemnify the Organizer against any claims, actions, or proceedings of any kind, as well as any resulting damages, liabilities, or costs arising from a breach of these terms.
- The EUD will appoint a steering committee of film experts and partners to select the best short movies reflecting the reality of the EUD impact.
- The best shortlisted movies will be screened during the EU Film Festival 2026.
Questions?
Contact us:
+268 2404 3667 / 7842 0920
culture@afmbabane.org / director@afmbabane.org
