The Cape Town Adventure Film Festival will present Film Award Laurels and Cash Prizes across eight categories:

Ultra Endurance Film Award - $250

- Honouring those who choose to go far, and refuse to stop until they reach the finish line.

Exploration Film Award - $250

- Films that set a course for the unknown, showing us that places of true awe and wonder still exist

Redefining the Limits Film Award - $250

- For those who go higher, further, deeper - pushing the limits of what humans are capable of.

Custodians of the Land Film Award - $250

- Films that champion respect, equality and conservation for the land.

Custodians of the Ocean Film Award - $250

- Films that educate, protect and promote sustainability in our oceans.

Everyday Legends Film Award - $250

- Shining a light on the ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their own communities.

Storyteller Film Award - $250

- Celebrating films that move us through the craft of storytelling - real characters, real stakes, real obstacles, and real change

Best South African Adventure Film Award - $250

- Recognising the best of South African adventure filmmaking - homegrown talent, world-class stories.

To be eligible for the Best South African Adventure Film Award, the filmmaker (director or primary creative lead) must be a South African citizen actively involved in the South African film industry. The subject matter of the film does not need to be South African, but films with South African stories or settings will be given additional weight in judging.

All in competition films that submit to the festival are eligible to win more than one Film Award. There is no limit to how many awards a single film may receive.

The Jury reserves the right to withhold any specific Film Award if it determines that no submitted film sufficiently embodies the intended ethos of that award.

Winners are decided through a combination of audience voting and Jury deliberation.

Winners will be notified within a week after the Closing Night.

All payouts will be made via PayPal. Winning filmmakers must be able to receive funds via PayPal in their country of residence as a condition of receiving the cash portion of their award. Receiving the Laurel or any other involvement of the festival is not effected

All decisions made by the Jury and CTAFF regarding Film Award winners are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding adjudication outcomes.

FILMMAKER BENEFITS FOR FILMS ACCEPTED INTO THE FESTIVAL

• CTAFF Official Selection Laurel

• Eligibility for a Film Award and Cash Prize payout

• Exposure to a whole new audience

• Eligibility for the Filmmakers Package

• Eligibility for revenue share on the CTAFF National Tour

• Q&A and networking opportunities

• A gift bag for filmmakers attending their screening night in Cape Town

NOTES

• For the Filmmakers Package, we are working towards 3 nights accommodation, local transport allowance, festival tickets and a few perks for out-of-town filmmakers. Full details to be announced in the coming weeks

• All films submitted to the festival are eligible to be included in the CTAFF National Tour, with screenings across South Africa in the weeks following the festival. A ticket revenue share arrangement will be finalised with each selected film.

• Filmmakers reserve the right to exclude their film from the Tour should they prefer.

All Submissions for the 2027 Cape Town Adventure Film Festival will be through Film Freeway

Submissions fees are:

SHORT ADVENTURE FILMS (UNDER 40mins) - $20

FEATURE ADVENTURE FILM (OVER 40mins ) - $30

SOUTH AFRICAN AND AFRICAN ADVENTURE FILMS (OF ANY LENGTH) - $10

Submission fees exist not as a revenue stream, but to ensure that every film in consideration represents a genuine commitment to the festival and its audience.

If financial constraints are a barrier to your submission, we invite you to apply for a complimentary submission code by emailing submissions@ctaff.com with a short motivation.

All requests are reviewed personally and responded to within 5 business days.

Your motivation should address three things:

1. Your film

— A brief description of your film, its subject, and the story it tells.

2. The fit

— Tell us why you feel your film belongs at the Cape Town Adventure Film Festival. What does it share with our programming values around human spirit, adventure, conservation, and authentic storytelling?

3. Your circumstances

— We understand that financial constraints are a reality for many independent filmmakers, particularly emerging voices. Please share, in whatever way feels comfortable, why a complimentary submission would make a meaningful difference to you at this time.

Submit via film freeway here.

SUBMISSION & FILM AWARDS RULES

1. Films completed in 2025 or 2026 are eligible for the 2027 competition. Films can have been previously broadcast or released online

2. Only finished films will be accepted. The version submitted at the time of entry is the version that will be reviewed.

3. Selected films will be screened across CTAFF venues during the festival period, 12 February - 27 February 2027. CTAFF additionally reserves the right to extend selected screenings to further venues within South Africa for a period of 2 months following the festival, as part of its mission to bring adventure film to wider audiences across the country.

4. All selected finalists will be required to enter into a licensing agreement with CTAFF covering the festival period prior to their film being confirmed in the programme.

5. All decisions relating to programming, category placement, awards, and any matter not explicitly addressed in these Rules and Terms rest solely with CTAFF and its jury.

6. All films submitted to the festival are eligible to win more than one CTAFF Film Award. There is no limit to how many awards a single film may receive.

7. The Jury reserves the right to withhold any specific Film Award if it determines that no submitted film sufficiently embodies the intended ethos of that award.

8. To be eligible for the Best South African Adventure Film Award, the filmmaker (director or primary creative lead) must be a South African citizen actively involved in the South African film industry (at the sole discretion of the Festival Director). The subject matter of the film does not need to be South African, but films with South African stories or settings will be given additional weight in judging.

9. Film Award winners are decided through a combination of audience voting and Jury deliberation.

10. Winners will be notified within a week after the Festival's Closing Night.

11. Filmmakers whose films win one or more Film Awards will receive a cash prize, paid out cumulatively across every award won. All payouts will be made via PayPal. Winning filmmakers must be able to receive funds via PayPal in their country of residence as a condition of receiving the cash portion of their award; the laurel, certificate, and website listing are unaffected either way.

12. All decisions made by the Jury and CTAFF regarding Film Award winners are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding adjudication outcomes.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Selected films will be required to provide a high-resolution screening master before the deadline of 18 January 2027. Full instructions will be sent directly to selected filmmakers.
Preferred specifications for screening masters:

• Codec: Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) or Avid DNxHD HQX

• Resolution: 1920x1080p (HD). 4K files and DCPs are not required but may be discussed for select cinema venue screenings.

• Frame rate: As edited, to a maximum of 30 frames per second

• Audio: Uncompressed PCM, .wav or .aif, 24-bit, 48kHz, full stereo mix

• Container: .mov or .mxf

• Subtitles: SRT Files must be provided for films, or portions of dialogue not in English

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

Films selected for the CTAFF programme will be promoted across the festival's marketing channels, including digital platforms, print materials, social media, and press. Selected filmmakers will be asked to provide a set of promotional assets in advance of the festival. Full requirements will be communicated directly to finalists upon selection.

GRANT OF RIGHTS

By submitting a film to CTAFF, the Entrant represents and warrants that:
(a) The Filmmaker is the rightful copyright holder of the submitted film, or has obtained all necessary rights, licences, and permissions from the copyright holder to submit the film to CTAFF and to authorise its public screening.
(b) The Filmmaker has obtained the necessary ‘talent release agreements’ from those appearing in the film.
(c) All music contained in the film has been properly licensed for public performance.
(d) The submitted film contains no material that is defamatory, libellous, or in violation of any person's right to privacy or publicity. The screening of the film will not infringe the copyright, moral rights, or any other rights of any individual, company, or organisation.
(e) The Filmmaker accepts full and unconditional agreement to all CTAFF Rules and Terms by virtue of making a submission.

INDEMNITY

The Filmmaker agrees to indemnify the Cape Town Adventure Film Festival, its director, employees, contractors, and representatives, and to hold them harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising directly or indirectly from any breach by the Entrant of any statement, representation, or warranty made in connection with this submission.