BENEFITS
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
- 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
Eligibility for revenue share on the CTAFF National Tour
- 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.
Q&A and networking opportunities
- The best way for the audience to get to know you and support your film.
A gift bag for filmmakers attending their screening night in Cape Town
- Our way of saying thank you to those who attend in person.
FILM AWARDS
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.
SUBMISSIONS
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) - $10o
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.
