EAccelerate
Development & production · short films · East Africa
Usually opens March
Funding and training for East African director-and-producer pairs making short documentaries of up to 20 minutes, with at least 80% shot locally.
What it is
EAccelerate supports East African director-and-producer pairs to make short documentaries, with funding, personalised training and industry exposure. EASC builds on the DW Akademie Film Development Fund (2021–2023), an initiative supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). That partnership laid the groundwork for African-led film development, keeping funding and capacity-building in the hands of local industry professionals.
- Who it’s for
- Director and producer pairs based in East Africa.
- What it offers
- Up to €20,000 in funding
- Personalised training and mentorship
- Films up to 20 minutes, with at least 80% shot locally
- Regional and international screening prospects
Cohort 2025
Three teams, three films — sKins, Xurmo and Hidden Journey. Completion scheduled for 1 December 2025.
Xurmo
Hana Mire, Somalia
Hidden Journey
Noura Adil Suliman Mohamed, Sudan
sKins
Rediet Haddis Yalew, Ethiopia
Hana Mire
Somalia. EAccelerate, 2025
Fatima Ismail Mohamed
Somalia. EAccelerate, 2025
Noura Adil Suliman Mohamed
Sudan. EAccelerate, 2025
Elsadig Mohamed Ahmed Abdelgayoum
Sudan. EAccelerate, 2025
Rediet Haddis Yalew
Ethiopia. EAccelerate, 2025
Gebriel Abebe Balcha
Ethiopia. EAccelerate, 2025
Cohort 2024
Four East African filmmakers selected to produce short films based on previously developed ideas, each receiving up to €20,000.
Who runs it
Run through the East Africa Screen Collective (EASC), with DocA as a member organisation
Events
EASC at Berlinale
EASC presented four short films at Berlinale, a milestone for East African cinema and a demonstration of what direct funding, mentorship and industry exposure produce together..
ReadEAccelerate Regional Screening
DocA presented its first public screening event in East Africa, bringing together filmmakers, cultural partners, funders and audiences.
Read