Categories

1. Features: African fictional films 60 minutes and over. Non-African submissions will be solicited.

2. Documentaries: African non-fiction films 60 minutes and over. Non-African submissions will be solicited.

3. Short Film: fiction or documentary films that are under 60 minutes. Open to all countries.

4. Student Film: fiction and non-fiction films under 60 minutes. The director of the film must be enrolled in a tertiary institution during the year that the film is produced and submitted for the festival. Open to all countries.

Competition Films

1. The competition section of the festival includes a selection of Features, Documentaries, Shorts and Student Films that will be adjudicated by an independent jury.

2. The decisions of the Jury are final, and no correspondence is entered into after the announcement of the Awards.

Eligibility

1. Feature films, documentaries, short films and student films that have been completed any time after 1 January 2025.

2. Films submitted and declined for the previous edition will not be considered for the 47th edition.

3. Films must not have been shown on South African television, internet streaming services or released / screened physically in South African cinema before the DIFF2026 presentation.

4. Should your film be selected, the festival requires a DCP for the exhibition. This is not applicable to student films.

5. Films where the language is not English, must have English subtitles.

6. Works solely promotional, educational or scientific in nature are not eligible for selection for DIFF.

7. A film selected to participate in the festival cannot be withdrawn from the festival during the event.

8. Films for the festival must be submitted by a representative who has the authority to do so.