1. Introduction
The Hluma film festival is created to provide a platform for local filmmakers
to exhibit their films. This is Pietermaritzburg - based festival in Kwazulu-Natal, South
Africa. The Hluma Film Festival invites filmmakers to submit their Short,
films to screen in the festival from 14 Nov - 16 Nov 2026 under the theme “When truth is planted my lens find the light” capturing authentic stories that reflect who we are and where we come from.
The festival will be over a 3-day period at various locations in Pietermaritzburg.
Only films completed as from 1 May 2023, 2024 and 2026 will be accepted.
2. Submission deadline
Deadline for all entries is 13 June 2026
3. Categories of the Festival and Terms
Feature or Short Film: A fiction or documentary film with a running time up to 90 minutes.
All submissions should be made by the official representative who will serve as the
mediator for screening fees as well as the transportation of the materials.
4. Film entry rules
Feature or short films in which either the producer, director, or writer is Woman or youth, short films that have been completed since 1 April 2024/25/26, accepted exhibition formats for our festival are:
MPEG - 2, MPEG - 4, only downloads will be acceptable
Audio is STEREO only.
Films written in other foreign languages other than English must be subtitled in English
in order to be considered for selection.
Works that are solely promotional, educational or scientific in nature are not eligible for
selection for the HFF.
A Film that is selected to participate in the festival cannot be withdrawn from the festival during the event.
5. More information you can email hlumafilmfest@gmail.com
6. Selection and Notification
Films are selected by the Selection Committee.
The application will not be considered complete until all entry requirements are met.
All selected films will be notified by the Festival Director no later than 13 August 2026.
6. Selected Films Required Materials
Successful entrants will be asked to send us an online link to download the film in high
resolution for screening purposes. A Director of the selected film must complete an official HFF Participation Confirmation Form available on selection no later than 30 August 2026.
A half a page synopsis in English
The director’s photo, biography and filmography
Trailers, posters, for promotion of the film
By submitting the HFF participation confirmation form and the above materials, the
entrant(s) grant HFF a non-exclusive license to publicly screen the selected film in
the 2026 Hluma Film Festival platforms.
8. Awards & Prizes
This is the competition section of the festival, which covers a selection for Shorts with the most viewership and a compelling story our roots and legacy to be judged by a
jury.
Trophies are awarded to winning films in each of HFF's categories.
Not all invited films officially selected will be eligible for the awards. The selection
committees' and juries' decisions are final.
HFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in rules or festival scheduling.
