1112Dec
Thohoyandou
Arts and Culture
Creative Call Out 2026Send us your film. Entry is free.
Creative call out 2026
Your story belongs on our screen
We are calling on filmmakers and storytellers from Limpopo and across South Africa to submit their work for consideration as part of the 2026 Mirunzini Film Festival programme.
Fiction, documentary, animation, student work, films in our mother tongues. If it was made with heart and it tells our stories, we want to see it. Entries go in through our own portal. There is no fee, no middleman, and every film is watched by a person.
- Free to enter
- Share a private screener link
- Track your entry online
About the festival
Mirunzini. In the shade.
In Tshivenda, mirunzini means in the shade. It is where stories have always been told: under the tree, out of the sun, with everyone gathered close.
Cinema is made of light and shade too. Mirunzini Film Festival brings that circle to the big screen in Thohoyandou, a space for filmmakers, audiences and industry practitioners to meet, watch and learn from each other.
Heritage is what we remember, what we carry, and what we continue to create.
- When
- 11–12 December 2026
- Where
- Thohoyandou Arts & Culture Centre, Limpopo
- Presented by
- Ngoma Productions
Faces of Mirunzini
Our stories are carried by our people. Bring yours to the screen.
Categories
Where your film fits
Enter one film into every category it qualifies for. Each entry is judged on its own.
Short Film
Fiction films that tell a complete story in 30 minutes or less.
Feature Film
Fiction films of 60 minutes or longer.
Documentary
Non-fiction films of any length: people, places, memory, heritage.
Animation
Animated films of any technique and any length.
Student Film
Films made while enrolled at a school, college, university or training programme.
Limpopo Voices
Any film by a filmmaker based in Limpopo, or shot mainly in Limpopo.
Mother Tongue
Films told mainly in an indigenous South African language: Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sepedi, isiNdebele, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Setswana, Sesotho, siSwati and more.
How to enter
Five steps, about fifteen minutes
-
Sign in with your email
No password. We email you a six-digit code.
-
Tell us about you
Your contact details and ID, once. Under 18? A parent or guardian signs off.
-
Add your film
Title, runtime, language, synopsis and credits. It saves as you type.
-
Share your screener
A Vimeo, YouTube (unlisted) or Google Drive link, with its password if it has one. You can also upload the file.
-
Pick categories and submit
You get a reference number by email and can follow your entry in the portal.
Key dates
Mark your calendar
- NowSubmissions open
- To be announcedSubmissions close, 23:59 SAST
- Before the festivalEvery entrant hears from us by email
- 11–12 DecemberMirunzini Film Festival, Thohoyandou
Does it cost anything to enter?
No. Entry is free. Mirunzini will never ask you for a submission fee, and no one is authorised to charge you one on our behalf.
Who can enter?
Filmmakers and storytellers from Limpopo and across South Africa. Some categories have extra rules, like runtime or language. The portal only lets you pick the categories your film qualifies for.
How do I send my film?
Share a private link: Vimeo (with a password), YouTube (unlisted) or Google Drive. Make sure the link and password keep working until the festival ends on 12 December. You can also upload an MP4 or MOV file straight to us, but a link is faster and saves you data.
My film is not in English. Can I enter?
Yes, and we would love that. Films in every South African language are welcome. Please include English subtitles so the whole jury can watch it.
Can I enter more than one film?
Yes, up to five films. Each film can go into every category it qualifies for.
I am under 18. Can I enter?
Yes. A parent or guardian needs to give their details and their consent in the portal before your entry is complete.
Why do you ask for my ID number?
It confirms you are the South African filmmaker you say you are, keeps it to one account per person, and lets us pay any prizes. Only the festival office can see it. Judges never do.
Can I change my entry after I submit?
You can edit your film details until entries close, and you can withdraw an entry at any time from the portal.
Call for partnership
Build the festival with us
Join us in building a festival that champions film, creativity, opportunity and African storytelling.
- Brand partnerships
- Film and programme support
- Industry and masterclasses
- Media and marketing
- In-kind and strategic partnerships
Your brand. Our platform. A shared vision for African stories.
Talk to us about partnering
