Alternativa Film Festival, a Global South film initiative founded and supported by inDrive, has opened submissions for its first African edition, offering a total prize fund of $120,000 across seven award categories.
The organisers announced the call for entries at MIP Africa, stating that feature films from Africa, Asia and Latin America would be eligible, while short film submissions would be restricted to African filmmakers. All entries must have been completed after January 1, 2026, with the submission deadline set for March 1, 2027. Entry is free through the festival’s website.
Three of the seven awards, including the $20,000 Focus Award and two $10,000 Short Film Awards, are reserved for African filmmakers, who can also compete in the other categories. Directors of selected films will be invited to attend the festival and awards ceremony, with travel and accommodation expenses covered by the organisers.
Alternativa Head, Liza Surganova, said the African edition would create new opportunities and connections for filmmakers while showcasing the continent’s diverse cultures and cinematic voices. The 2027 programme will feature public screenings, discussions, industry events and networking opportunities.
Previous editions were held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2023; Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2024; and Medellín, Colombia, in 2026, where the festival received 1,831 submissions from 55 countries and attracted 11,000 attendees. The African edition is scheduled for late 2027, although its host city, country and exact dates are yet to be announced.
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