City of Cape Town announces 2025/26 Film Fund beneficiaries

The City of Cape Town has officially announced the beneficiaries of its 2025/26 Film Fund, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to supporting local storytelling and strengthening the city’s position as a global film and media hub.

In this funding cycle, five productions have been selected, spanning a diverse mix of formats and genres. The slate includes two television series, two documentaries, one feature film, and one short animation series, each contributing to a rich and representative tapestry of South African stories.

Designed to empower both emerging and established filmmakers across the metro, the Film Fund supports original content that amplifies local voices, promotes diverse narratives, and showcases Cape Town’s unique creative landscape.

Following an extensive evaluation process, the selected projects are:

• Spinners (TV Series) by Backstory Films
• Aquanauts: Beneath The Surface (Documentary) by Community Media Trust
• Silas en die Ysbeer op Tafelberg (Feature Film) by Nagvlug Films
• Omdraai (Documentary) by Kindergarten Films
• Animal Therapy (Short Animation Series) by Studio Bo

‘We’re happy to announce our second slate of productions to be funded this year. These projects will benefit from a dedicated film fund designed to spark authentic storytelling. Through this initiative, they will receive support from our film fund created to help bring real, meaningful stories to life, stories that reflect the city’s people, history, and everyday experiences. As part of a broader effort to support and grow the creative sector, developing local skills, creating opportunities for new talent, encouraging international collaboration, and further establishing Cape Town as a top destination for film. We congratulate this year’s recipients and wish them every success with their projects,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

The selected projects are currently being filmed across multiple locations in Cape Town, with various areas serving as backdrops to their stories. These projects are also progressing through different stages of production.

A word from the filmmakers

Spinners Season Two by Backstory Films:

On behalf of all our team, it is a great honor that Spinners Season 2 is supported by the City of Cape Town, which is increasingly involved in the audiovisual industry, supporting local creators and teams whose talent is undeniable.

Aquanauts: Beneath The Surface by Community Media Trust (CMT):

The CMT team is proud to have the opportunity to tell this story in our hometown and is grateful to the City of Cape Town Film Fund for assisting us to do so. The opportunity to hear these stories from those who lived them is an incredible chance to record their history and memory.

Silas en die Ysbeer op Tafelberg by Nagvlug Films:

We are deeply grateful and humbled to receive support from the City of Cape Town’s Film Fund for Silas en die Ysbeer op Tafelberg. This film was born from a love for Cape Town – shaped by the mythology of Table Mountain and the city’s rich folklore. With the City’s support, we are now able to carry that piece of Cape Town beyond our shores and share it with the world.

Omdraai by Kindergarten Films:

Kindergarten Films is delighted to receive funding from The Cape Town Film Fund and the City of Cape Town to complete the Post Production on our documentary “Omdraai”, in which we follow seven young girls from a small rural village in the Western Cape on their journey to participate in the International Ballet Competition in Cape Town. Knowing that there are very few such opportunities, we feel particularly honoured that our work on the project so far has been recognised as worthy of completion. Our hope – and aim – is to produce a beautiful film that will make everyone proud.

Animal Therapy by Studio Bo:

Studio Bo is thrilled to have been awarded funding for the pilot of our web series Animal Therapy. We have been hoping to develop a series for a while now but haven’t had the budget to get an idea off the ground. This is a huge privilege, and we can’t wait to get cracking!

Synopsis:

Spinners Season Two: The Underdogs have become massive spinning stars living a new life, but Ethan will soon realize that he cannot escape his past, as it comes calling when Hercules needs him for one last job. At the same time, he will be confronted by the biggest crime family from Soweto, whose troubled son Sayi becomes his main spinning rival.

Aquanauts: Beneath The Surface: The documentary follows Nicolas Smith as he uncovers the legacy of his grandfather, who founded South Africa’s first Black diving club during apartheid. Through personal reflection and historical insight, the film highlights the club’s role in challenging racial barriers and celebrates its lasting impact on both the diving community and the fight for equality.

Silas en die Ysbeer op Tafelberg: A richly imaginative live-action fantasy that transforms Cape Town’s beloved Table Mountain into the beating heart of a child’s quest through grief, wonder, and the magic of storytelling.

Omdraai: (Turn Around) weaves together two interrelated stories: a real and metaphorical journey taken by seven young ballet dancers of colour, their teacher Miss Mary and her assistant Miss Ennie, who go from a small rural village to Cape Town to experience an international ballet competition. This is dove-tailed with a back-story that uncovers village community challenges, where the socio-economic circumstances and burdens of families are revealed. The film tells of the determination needed to rise out of low self-esteem and lack of opportunity, and how individuals and a rallying community can together make magic and bring about significant change.

Animal Therapy: Animal Therapy is a short-form musical animation series for kids set in an imaginative version of Cape Town, where young animal friends visit a warm animal therapist to talk (and sing!) about the big feelings they’re facing – from friendship troubles to first-day nerves. With heart, humor, and a song in every session, Animal Therapy helps kids explore emotions in a fun, gentle, and meaningful way.