South Africa · Winter 2026
Zesty 2-Minute Film Festival
90 seconds to 2 minutes. Unlimited Imagination.
Inviting actors & filmmakers aged 13–100 years to connect, collaborate & create short films — live action, animation, AI & micro dramas all welcome.
R400 per film
Ages 13–100
PG 13 · All genres
Any device
Live action, Animation & Micro Dramas
Special category
📱Micro Dramas
An amazing additional opportunity. Micro Dramas have taken off around the world, with festivals being created around them — highly addictive, narrative-driven series made for mobile screens, known for rapid pacing, massive plot twists, and cliffhangers. We encourage filmmakers to enter this category too.
Develop, film & launch opportunityThe producers at Riceboy — Exec Producer Brendan Rice and Producer Philip Townsend — have developed and produced a micro drama directed by Shane Knock, releasing soon. They have offered to view festival entries and potentially develop, film, and launch an exceptional micro drama entered into the festival.
Format9:16 vertical · 90–120 second episodes. Never turn your phone.
ThemeScandal & Betrayal — scandals, secret billionaires, forbidden love, revenge, dramatic betrayals.
Submission1 hook episode required. One or two additional episodes optional, at no extra cost.
StorylinesExaggerated, soap-opera drama — built for the hook, the twist, and the cliffhanger.
Key dates
📅Festival Timeline
By Wednesday 1 July 2026
Entry forms & payment
Enter as early as possible — entries close Wednesday 1 July. R400 per film. Email festival@zestcasting.com and we will reply with details.
Monday 10 August 2026
Films submitted
Final films due. Shortlist created, then judges view and vote across all categories.
To be confirmed
Screening Night & Awards
A community screening event and awards ceremony. Date & venue to be announced.
The rules
📜Simple Rules & Open Vision
Who can enter: Anyone aged 13–100, from anywhere in South Africa or abroad.
Film length: Minimum 90 seconds, maximum 120 seconds — excluding credits, which may run into additional time.
Viewership: Family friendly · PG 13. All genres welcome except horror, extreme violence, or explicit content.
Filming device: Any device — from phones to professional cameras. Single-shot or fully edited films both welcome.
Resolution: Preferred 1080p for 2-minute films.
File size: Maximum 2GB per film on submission.
Volunteers only: All participants must be unpaid volunteers.
Budget: Ideally, keep budgets as low as possible. Use what you have — natural light, practical locations, resourceful thinking.
Any language: Non-English films require subtitles.
Music & score: Original score recommended. All royalties must be cleared for non-original music or sound.
AI films & AI use: AI films are welcome, and AI may also be used within films — AI-generated imagery for backgrounds, establishing shots, drone-style shots, or VFX inserts. AI may not alter the likeness or voice of any actor.
Animations: Welcome across all categories.
Behind the Scenes: Optional BTS footage can be submitted at no additional cost.
Safety first: The safety of all people and animals on set is paramount throughout production.
Inspiration
💡Themes for the Films
Choose one or two of the themes below. “Our Film Industry” is the broad anchor — room for comedy, drama, satire, behind-the-scenes stories, crew stories, audition chaos, and everything in between. Local and relatable. The Journey, The Pursuit of Truth, and Strangers can each stand alone or be layered onto “Our Film Industry”.
Our Film Industry
The Journey
The Pursuit of Truth
Strangers
Micro Drama category theme: Scandal & Betrayal
Awards
🏆Award Categories
Best Film
Best Screenplay
Best Director
Best On-Camera Performer
Best Supporting Performer
Best Production Design
Best Sound Design
Best Micro Drama
Potential additional awards may be introduced, depending on the scope of films submitted.
Stunt support
🎞️Kerry Gregg · Stunt Coordinator
Veteran stunt coordinator Kerry Gregg has generously offered his time and expertise to participants. Need a simple stunt — a fall, hand-to-hand combat, or similar? Kerry can consult on safety and execution, and may match you with a stunt performer to act or double in your scene. (More complex stunts requiring a larger team are excluded.)
What he offersSafety consultation · on-set execution advice · stunt performer matching for acting or doubling roles.
Selected creditsAvengers: Age of Ultron · Chappie · Escape Room: Tournament of Champions · Chronicle · Beast · Novacaine · Outlander · Black Sails.
The judges
⭐Industry Adjudicators
Respected industry professionals are being invited to adjudicate and vote across the categories. Names and career highlights will be shared soon.
🎬Ready to enter?
R400 per film · Entries close 1 July 2026
Films due 10 August 2026
All participants are volunteers.
festival@zestcasting.com
🤝Become a Sponsor
Help elevate this zesty, fast-paced cinematic experience and keep the local industry creative, collaborating, and communicating through mid-winter. From prizes to support of the screening event — any assistance is warmly welcomed. Sponsor names will be shared on the website, on social media, and at the screening.
monique@zestcasting.com
Festival Director — Monique du Plessis Murray, Zest Casting
festival@zestcasting.com
