Welcome

The kykNET Silwerskerm Festival is an internationally recognised South African and Afrikaans film and content festival that has supported, empowered and developed the local industry for the past 13 years. The festival has proven to be an important platform for both established and emerging filmmakers. Alongside South African or world premieres of the latest feature films, the Silwerskerm Festival showcases the work of young talent in a diverse range of short films produced with the festival’s financial support and mentorship. The packed festival programme includes panel discussions, workshops and industry-focused masterclasses presented by renowned local and international experts. The prestigious Silwerskerm Awards for Film and Television honour the best work that debuted at the festival, as well as outstanding achievements in television broadcast on kykNET channels over the past year.

In 2025, two independent feature films and four independent short films will be added to the programme. The selection of short documentary films has also expanded. Short films by experienced filmmakers aim to move audiences and inspire emerging talent, while up-and-coming filmmakers find their voices and bring their stories to the big screen for the first time through short films.

The exciting Silwermark returns to the festival, offering the opportunity to pitch Afrikaans content in person to both kykNET and Showmax in a variety of categories.

Since ancient times, stories have been essential for people to make sense of their existence. The Silwerskerm Festival in Camps Bay, Cape Town, cherishes and celebrates original South African stories, making meaning and art from our world and people.

The festival remains committed to the following objectives:

• Expanding the South African film and TV industry
• Audience development
• Training and mentorship
• Promotion of local content – nationally and internationally
• Social cohesion and healthy discourse

Please enjoy the festival, the stories and everything that beautiful Camps Bay has to offer.

Silwerskerm initiatives

SILWERMARK

Every year, filmmakers get the opportunity to submit a concept proposal in various video entertainment genres for the Silwermark. Submissions are selected for an in-person pitching session to a panel of commissioning decision makers at the festival. The selection process is driven by the M-Net Content Hub Commissioning Editors representing the various categories.

Concepts for new television or streaming shows must fit into either of the following categories and adhere to a 70% Afrikaans dialogue prerequisite:

1. kykNET Drama
2. kykNET Reality & Entertainment
3. kykNET Documentary
4. Afrikaans Feature Films
5. Showmax Script-driven Concepts (Comedy/Drama)
6. kykNET Advertiser Funded Programmes (AFPs)

SHORT FILM PROJECT – Rising filmmakers

The Silwerskerm Short Film Project grants rising filmmakers the opportunity to develop and produce short films with the financial backing and mentorship of the festival. This initiative has offered a platform to numerous now well-known filmmakers to enter and establish themselves in the industry. The project has grown exponentially over the last couple of years and has branched out into various short film categories.

SHORT FILM PROJECT – Established filmmakers

This category, which offers established filmmakers funding and a platform to showcase their craft at the festival, is part of the festival for the second time this year. A condition for participation in the category is that the filmmakers mentor less-experienced team members.

SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS – Rising filmmakers

The Silwerskerm Short Documentary Project enables emerging filmmakers to develop and produce documentaries of no longer than half an hour, telling real-life stories. This project was successful from the get-go and has grown quickly, enabling an entire new genre to find footing in the festival landscape, with award categories recognising outstanding achievements.

SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS – Established filmmakers

This year, submissions have been opened to more experienced filmmakers working in the documentary field to submit concepts for selection, funding and screening at the Silwerskerm Festival in 2026.

FEATURE FILMS

Original screenplays and book adaptations have captivated Silwerskerm audiences over the past twelve years in the thrilling feature film category. An annual highlight of the festival, these cinematic experiences are crafted by the cream of the local industry across a variety of film genres, focusing on authentically South African stories.

TELEVISION AND STREAMER CONTENT

Since 2023, the Silwerskermfees programme line-up started to include sneak peeks of television and streamer content as a vibrant addition to the festival. This means the Afrikaans film content landscape is now hosted, stimulated and celebrated in its entirety at the unique networking opportunity the festival offers. Feature-length documentaries, pilot episodes of drama series and reality and entertainment shows are screened, and these storytellers enjoy the glitz and glamour of the festival alongside their filmmaking peers.

kykNET SILWERSKERM AWARDS FOR FILM AND TELEVISION

The Silwerskerm Awards for Film and Television have expanded into two prestigious prize-giving ceremonies, honouring outstanding achievements – both behind and in front of the camera – across 45 award categories. Both events will take place in Cape Town on 23 August: the first on Saturday morning at The Bay Hotel, and the second on Saturday evening at the CTICC. The glamorous evening awards ceremony at the CTICC will be broadcast on kykNET.