Next Narrative Africa Fund Launches Open Call for Africa-focused Film & TV Creators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. — July 8, 2025 — Next Narrative Africa Fund launches today its inaugural open call for submissions for its film and television script development grants, inviting applications from African or African diasporan creators producing projects in Africa. The fund aims to support bold, authentic storytelling that shifts the global perception of Africa and its descendants.
In its first open call, NNAF will consider projects that fit the following criteria:
- Narrative feature film or episodic series with an Africa nexus
- Commercially viable, with global appeal and distribution potential
- African and African-diasporan creatives at the helm
- Narrative shifting content focused on select social impact storytelling themes
- 50% or more production in Africa, including principal photography
Starting in August, the Next Narrative Africa Fund’s Greenlight Committee will review applications from a global pool of applicants vying for project grants that will go toward script development. The slate of selected projects will be announced in December and grant recipients may be eligible for future equity investment from the Fund.
“We are excited to launch this search for the best stories that will shape how the world sees Africa and its descendants. We look forward to supporting a slate of projects that not only demonstrate the profitability in investing in African content, but also the demand for an ecosystem where our creatives can thrive — telling our stories with the resources, platforms, and reach they deserve,” said Akunna Cook, Founder and CEO of Next Narrative Africa.
“Since we launched the Next Narrative Africa Fund last year the world has shifted in ways that make clear just how important storytelling is. This is the time to intentionally invest in narrative change.”
Cook is the visionary behind the initiative, and serves as managing partner of the Next Narrative Africa Fund. She has a strong track record across government, policy, and the private sector, most recently as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the Biden Administration.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for the initiative, which launched in September 2024. Darcy Heusel, former senior vice president of Artists, Culture and Partnerships at NEON, heads the Fund’s Greenlight Committee, which includes a diverse group of industry professionals.
“This is the moment to support a new generation of African storytellers and bring their stories to global audiences,” said Heusel.
“By supporting these projects, we aim to drive the future of the African content ecosystem by pushing the boundaries of what African content can be, supporting stories with the power to make an impact and reflecting the full spectrum of richness, creativity, and talent of storytellers.,” she added.
African and African diasporan creators with a compelling film or episodic series idea are strongly encouraged to apply.
Key Information
Deadline: 11:59 PM August 1, 2025
Apply: https://nextnarrativeafricafund.com/pitch/