The African Producers Accelerator (APA) has opened applications for its 2026 edition, targeting mid-career producers across the continent.
Following its pilot year, which focused on individual participants, the programme is expanding its scope to support producers seeking to strengthen their companies, refine their strategies, and scale their projects.
Run by Big World Cinema in partnership with the Bertha Foundation and South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation, and in association with the Durban Film Mart Institute and Central Film School, the 12-week programme offers tailored advisory and practical support.
The initiative will culminate in an in-person lab in Cape Town, South Africa, alongside participation in the Durban Film Market, where selected producers will engage in meetings, screenings, and industry sessions. The programme is scheduled to begin in July.
To qualify, applicants must have produced at least one feature-length narrative film, feature documentary, or television project that has screened at an international festival or been broadcast outside its country of production. Selection at an A-list festival or international distribution is considered an advantage but is not required.
The pilot cohort featured over eight producers, including Nigerians Funmi Ogunbawo and Josh Olaoluwa, whose works have screened at major festivals such as Cannes and Venice.
Applications for the 2026 cohort will close on April 5.