IQOQO Creative Opportunities Round-Up | November 2026
Funding, residencies, awards, exhibitions and open calls
This November’s opportunities include a development programme for South African documentary filmmakers, cash prizes and publication for poets, and exhibition opportunities for galleries and independent artists at the 2027 RMB Latitudes Art Fair. Additional calls cover photography, fashion, theatre, music, writing and international creative development programmes.
The selection includes opportunities based in South Africa as well as international calls that accept applicants from around the world. Check the eligibility criteria carefully, particularly where an application requires a specific type of project, professional experience or a submission fee.
South African opportunities
1. Mayibuye Doc Lab 2026/27
Deadline: 13 November 2026
Open to: South African documentary filmmaking teams.
The NFVF-backed Mayibuye Doc Lab is looking for compelling South African documentary projects in development or early production. Six projects will be selected for a four-month programme designed to strengthen their storytelling, production plans and prospects for financing and distribution.
Hosted by eHozini Retreat in KwaZulu-Natal and funded through the NFVF Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, the lab combines online workshops, a writing residency, group sessions and mentorship.
What’s on offer
- Development support to produce a complete, investment-ready project package.
- Mentorship from experienced local and international industry professionals.
- Support with a narrative treatment and draft script, production and financing plan, and distribution, marketing and impact strategy.
- Post-lab networking and opportunities to connect with documentary markets in 2027.
- Travel, accommodation and meals covered for the on-site residency.
Eligibility and submission requirements
- Projects must be South African, with South African key creative teams.
- The programme targets NFVF Tier 2 and Tier 3 filmmakers.
- First-time documentary filmmakers with experience in other formats are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should have completed at least one short film, fiction or nonfiction, or have relevant training and experience.
- Teams should ideally include a writer/director, producer and impact producer, all available for the full programme.
Programme dates: Online workshops, 1–11 December 2026; writing residency, January 2027; group sessions, January–February 2027.
Deadline: 13 November 2026, 23:59 SAST.
More information and applications: Mayibuye Doc Lab.
2. PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund
Deadline: 15 November 2026
Open to: Applicants seeking funding to translate published Afrikaans literary works for international publication.
The PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund supports the international circulation of Afrikaans literature by helping fund translations and translated publications. Applications are considered twice a year, with the next deadline on 15 November.
What’s on offer
- Financial support towards translating qualifying Afrikaans literary works.
- Support for the international publication and distribution of Afrikaans writing.
Eligibility and application requirements
- The original work must have been written in Afrikaans and published in South Africa by an established publisher.
- Eligible genres include novels, poetry, short stories, narrative nonfiction and text-based children’s and young adult books.
- A translator must be identified and have agreed to undertake the assignment.
- The application must include relevant translation rights documentation, a marketing plan, publisher information, the translator’s CV and a sample translation with the corresponding Afrikaans text.
- The translated work is expected to be published by the foreign publisher within 24 months of funding approval.
- This is primarily an opportunity for publishers and applicants managing translation projects, rather than an individual writing prize.
Deadline: 15 November 2026.
More information and application guidelines: PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund.
3. AVBOB Poetry Competition 2027
Deadline: 30 November 2026
Open to: South African citizens of all ages.
The 10th annual AVBOB Poetry Competition invites South Africans to submit original poems in any of the country’s 11 official written languages. This year’s theme is I Wish I’d Said…, with categories centred on birth, hope, death, love and new beginnings.
What’s on offer
- R10,000 for the winning poem in each of the 11 language categories.
- A R300 publication fee for poems accepted for the competition website.
- The possibility of inclusion in an AVBOB poetry anthology.
- Access to poetry resources, editorial guidance and workshops.
Eligibility and submission requirements
- Open to South African citizens.
- Up to 10 original, unpublished poems may be submitted.
- A poem cannot be entered in multiple language categories as a translation.
- Entrants under 18 require acknowledgement from a parent or guardian.
Deadline: 30 November 2026, 23:59 SAST.
More information and competition rules: AVBOB Poetry Competition.
4. RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2027: Exhibitor Applications
Deadline: 30 November 2026
Open to: Galleries, independent artists, collectives, studios and eligible contemporary art platforms.
RMB Latitudes Art Fair is inviting applications for its 2027 edition at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg. The fair presents contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, connecting artists, galleries, collectors, curators and the wider public.
What’s on offer
- Exhibition space at RMB Latitudes Art Fair, taking place from 21–23 May 2027.
- The opportunity to present work to collectors, curators and art audiences.
- A platform for galleries, independent artists and artist-led initiatives.
Eligibility and application requirements
- Applications are open to galleries, independent artists, artist-led initiatives, collectives, studios, print workshops, arts organisations and selected cultural projects.
- Applicants should submit a PDF outlining the artists represented, examples of their work and the proposed exhibition concept.
- Include an indicative artwork list, with artwork details and prices where available.
Deadline: 30 November 2026.
More information and applications: RMB Latitudes Art Fair.
5. Mahindra Fusion Fest 2027: Fashion Competition
Deadline: 3 January 2027
Open to: Fashion designers entering original garment concepts.
The Mahindra Fusion Fest Fashion Competition invites designers to develop original garment designs around the theme of a cultural revolution. Shortlisted designers will have the opportunity to present their work at Fusion Fest 2027.
What’s on offer
- A R30,000 cash prize.
- The opportunity to showcase a design at Fusion Fest 2027.
- Exposure through the competition’s social media campaign and judging process.
Eligibility and submission requirements
- Create up to four original garment designs.
- Photograph or scan the designs in high resolution.
- Upload the images to Instagram or TikTok, tag @mahindrafusionfest and encourage engagement.
- The 10 entries with the highest engagement will be shortlisted for selection by the judging panel.
Deadline: 3 January 2027, 00:00.
More information and competition rules: Mahindra Fusion Fest Fashion Competition.
International opportunities open to South Africans
The following calls are international in scope. They may be suitable for South African applicants, but check the individual rules, costs and any country-specific restrictions before applying.
6. Swarovski Foundation: Creatives for Our Future 2027
Deadline: 9 November 2026
Open to: Creatives aged 21–30 worldwide.
The Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future programme supports young creatives using their work to address social and environmental challenges and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The programme is open across disciplines including photography, videography, fashion, art, design, architecture and engineering.
What’s on offer
- A €20,000 grant for each selected creative.
- Support for creative projects addressing social and environmental challenges.
- An opportunity to develop work with an international programme.
Eligibility: Applicants must be aged 21–30 and demonstrate how their creative practice contributes to positive social or environmental change.
Deadline: 9 November 2026.
More information and applications: Creatives for Our Future.
7. Essere Residency 2027
Deadline: 15 November 2026
Open to: Creatives across disciplines and at all career stages.
Essere Residency offers a two-week self-directed programme in rural Tuscany, Italy. The residency provides time and space for creative development, alongside mentorship, talks and opportunities to exchange ideas with an international group of artists.
What’s on offer
- A two-week residency in Cetona, in the Province of Siena.
- Time to develop an existing project or begin new work.
- Individual mentorship in specific disciplines, by appointment.
- Talks by artists in residence and opportunities for creative exchange.
Programme dates: 20 September–4 October 2027.
Application deadline: 15 November 2026.
More information and applications: Essere Residency.
8. The Human Thread: National Geographic Society Grant
Deadline: 1 December 2026
Open to: Storytellers developing projects about human histories and cultures. International eligibility and project-specific requirements apply.
The National Geographic Society’s Human Thread programme is seeking storytelling projects that illuminate the breadth of human experience. The call is relevant to photographers, filmmakers, journalists and other storytellers working with cultural heritage, histories and contemporary human experience.
What’s on offer
- Level I grants of US$20,000.
- Level II grants of US$100,000.
- Funding for projects that connect historical legacies with contemporary realities.
Eligibility and application requirements
- Applicants must submit a proposal through the National Geographic Society funding portal.
- Each funding opportunity has its own criteria, including geographic focus and applicant requirements.
- Review the full Human Thread request for proposals before applying.
Deadline: 1 December 2026.
More information: National Geographic Society Grants and Investments.
9. International Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart: Call for Entries 2027
Deadline: 15 November 2026
Open to: Animation filmmakers worldwide, including students and graduates.
The International Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart (ITFS) is accepting entries for its 2027 competitions. The programme includes categories for international animated shorts, student films, children’s animation and films addressing environmental themes.
What’s on offer
- International festival exposure at ITFS, taking place from 27 April to 2 May 2027.
- Opportunities to screen work alongside international animation filmmakers.
- Different competition categories for professional and emerging animators.
Categories and requirements
- International Competition: animated short films up to 30 minutes.
- Student Competition: animated shorts by students or graduates of film, art or media colleges.
- Tricks for Kids: animated shorts and television episodes for children.
- Trickstar Nature: animated shorts addressing climate action, biodiversity, the environment or sustainability.
Deadline: 15 November 2026.
More information and submissions: International Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart.
