It’s that time of the year where in what feels like a flash, we're reflecting on another year of growth, learning, overcoming... and milestones!
 

Over the last three years, we have seen the power of resources to scale our impact. Through Africa Refocused, a collaboration with the National Geographic Society, NEWF’s impact this year alone has reached as many of Africa’s Storytellers, Conservationists and Scientists as it did in the years preceding our collaboration. And while these resources are by no means infinite, it is through continued partnerships, collaboration and grants that we are able to bring the work we do to life.

We challenge each of you to imagine an Africa where each statistic here not only represents a person in the NEWF community whose name we know, but impact leaders whose stories are redefining African storytelling in new ways.

297

NEWF fellows
to date

84

Newly inducted fellows

31

African Countries currently represented

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

17

Labs hosted at eKhaya

ACVPL Research & Development Workshop, ACVPL Pre-Production Workshop, Central Africa Cinematography Lab, Central Africa & N.O.I.M.R Dive Lab, Continual Development Dive Lab (existing fellows), Dive Instructor Labs (ongoing), Divemaster Lab (ongoing), Dive Instructor Labs (ongoing), Kickstarter Pre-Production Workshop, Kickstarter Research & Development Workshop, Makuleke Introductory Photography Lab, NFVF R&D Workshop, Producers Lab with Geoff Luck, Self-contained Content Creator Labs (partner organisations), Sodwana Freediving Lab with Argonaut Science and West & Central Africa Dive Lab

Photograph by Anthony Ochieng Onyango/ NGS

06

Labs in the field

AFO Partner Dive Labs in Tanzania, AFRIFF Pitch Workshop in Nigeria, Bahari Yetu Film Lab in Kenya, Her Lens Cinematography Lab in South Africa, Makuleke Bird Photography Lab in South Africa, Rhino Dehorning Cinematography Lab in South Africa and the Street Whale Photography Lab in Cameroon

Photograph by Yarminiah Rosa / YDWP

02

Exchange Programmes based at eKhaya
Africa to Archipelago from the Philippines and YDWP from the USA

17

Film projects wrapped up

09 

Films in Post-Production

 28

Films in Production

15

Films in development

14

Global Events

AFRIFF in Nigeria, Bahari Yetu Festival in Kenya, Durban Filmmart in South Africa, eThekwini Municipality Blue Economy Conference in South Africa, Fame Week / MIP Africa in South Africa, Green Stories in India, Jackson Wild Awards in the USA, Locations Africa in South Africa, Rustenburg Film Festival in South Africa, Street Whale Festival in Cameroon, SX Thailand in Thailand, Wildscreen in the UK, World Congress of Science and World Congress of Science and Factual Producers in Morocco, and the 10 Years of Homo Naledi Conference in South Africa.

06

New SCUBA Divemaster Certifications

George Amado from Ghana, Husna Amimu from Tanzania, Mbonea Mdoe from Tanzania, Prince Kuko from Cameroon, Samira Vera-Cruz from Cabo Verde and Thierry Aviti from Cameroon

Photograph by Anthony Ochieng Onyango/ NGS

04

Assistant Instructor Certifications
George Amado from Ghana, Husna Amimu from Tanzania, Mbonea Mdoe from Tanzania and Nkosi Mthembu from South Africa

A year of dreams came home

Venturing into the wild, cinematographers, birders, filmmakers, mentors, thought partners and guests find their bearings at eKhaya. Here, they gather to prepare their gear and supplies, run through production plans, connect, find the flow of their multilingual communication and truly become part of the community through social meals and cultural exchange.

Drone Photograph by Chisomo Kawaga / NEWF

One of the highlights of my year was sharing my personal perspective on eKhaya to a hybrid audience of more than 100 people at the National Geographic Society HQ in Washington, DC. I spoke about the seeds of change spaces like these represent for all of us in the NEWF community - a safe, inclusive space tailored is our culture and needs where the people and the story are what define its significance. I am excited to imagine spaces like these created all across Africa - rooms that carve space out for connection and for our voices to define the change we want to see on the African continent.

- Stefanie Titus, Communications Lead

Photograph by Rolf Sjogre / NGS

More than just a base, eKhaya has become home for most of the theoretical learning and exchanges, and a safe space for cohorts to lounge, learn and delve deeply into ideation, project work and collaboration.

We have some really good producers and DOP's who are legitimately mid-career but don't necessarily know how to develop a story holistically. Typically these producers will end up struggling while editing.

The rather spontaneous Story Lab we had with Geoff Luck was one of my highlights this year. In an attmept to address this gap we spent a week in conversation with Geoff about story. We sat and we talked. Pure and simple. It was a departure from the labs we usually host (very technical) and veered towards artistic banter. I think this is so important because we are very dialled in on the issues/themes that our films explore, but above and beyond that, we want to make good films. Films that people want to watch... It is an artistic venture.

There is lot to say for telling a story with a camera, but before that there is the idea of bringing this vision forward on paper - it brings to life the thing we always say... What story do you want to tell? 
 

- Wambui Waweru, Story Labs Lead

Inclusivity + accessibility in action

This year some of our highlights include hosting our first French-English cinematography and dive labs, facilitated by the multilingual talents of fellows Kristina Obame and Samira Vera-Cruz, who provided live translation to ensure seamless collaboration.

My 2024 highlight has to be language inclusivity. We were connecting in new ways during the lab selection interview process; using Google Translate in the chat box while observing each other's expressions. It was really cool seeing the fellows navigate translation live during labs.

- Thuku Kamau, Cinematography and Post-Production Lead

Our support for African women manifested as the first lab exclusively for female African cinematographers, seven (7) talented women joined our community and had in-the-field training on our new, professionally rigged film vehicle, offering fellows niche experience capturing wildlife.

We celebrated global wins

We roamed through UK streets beaming with pride after Erica Rugabandana from Tanzania received the Emerging Talent Award for her film Kuishi na Simba during the prestigious Wildscreen event known as the ‘Green Oscars’. Her success inspires us all.

Photograph courtesy of Juan Croxatto

One of the goals for Wild Hope is to empower local filmmakers to tell local stories. When you’re trying to tell intimate stories about a place and its people, that local perspective is so important. These two pieces are models for what that process can look like, and we hope to do a lot more like them going forward.

- Jared Lipworth, Head of Studio at HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

Photograph courtesy of Mogamat Shamier Magmoet

The Science Film Fellowship struck gold (see what we did there?) with two of the crew projects earning Wild Hope status.

Episode 34: Guano Gold by Chisomo Kawaga (pictured above left), Janado Cher, Samira Vera Cruz and Tumi Sejoe; and Episode 33: Pangolin Protector by Carlos Noronha (pictured above right), Niaina Ramahangihajason, and Augusto Bila. These #WildHopeHero episodes are now streaming on WildHopeTV, on the PBS YouTube channel.

Our stories go with us

This year, we spread NEWF’s signature energy far beyond the African continent. From Bristol and Washington to Nigeria and Morocco; delegations of fellows presented their projects and perspectives at events, conferences, and global stages.

Photograph by Yarminiah Rosa / DWP

It was a dream come true travelling outside of South Africa to join the DWP CARES initiative in Honduras this year. I got to dive into the tropical waters of the Pacific ocean where I found myself connecting to and loving the ocean more than before. The biggest shock was to see so many young people of colour connected with the ocean by the age of 16, a rare sight in African countries. I hope that the reason I was born in my community is to change that for my community.

- Nkosi Mthembu, NEWF Divemaster and Assistant Instructor

Photographs courtesy of Rustenburg Film Festival

More than an exciting roster of international events, we took our stories on the road in Africa; representing our passion and impact at Durban Film Mart’s Climate Story Lab, FAME Week hosted at the CTICC in Cape Town, eThekwini Municipality’s Blue Economy Week and Rustenburg Film Festival where impact-focused dialogue and VR won audiences over with storytelling and the immersive exploration of African ecosystems.

Diversity below the surface

Photograph by Jahawi Bertolli / NGS

With nearly 300 fellows representing talent and expertise in diverse industries, facilitating the largest ocean access program for African Scientists, Conservationists and Storytellers is a our impact. We certified countless divers via eKhaya, including a handful of Divemasters and Instructors who are taking their skills home to redefine representation in the local dive industries. 

My highlight was meeting and training so many people with different different cultures. A busy year of overcoming challenges together, and learning a lot from each other.

- Sli Mbuyazi, Dive Instructor and eKhaya Shareholder

Photograph by Anthony Ochieng Onyango / NGS

Africa Refocused - it’s a thing!

As we close 2024, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the fellows, mentors, internal team and NGS support teams who have supported our mission by demonstrating the magic of Ubuntu with their time, expertise and resources. Together, we are showing the world the Africa we see and feel.

Together we are transforming the narrative about Africa's wildlife and the communities that have shaped us.

In 2025 we have more growth, refinement, ideas, labs, and curriculum development on our slate - including growing the North African representation in our community in 2025.

None of the stories told by the NEWF Community have been possible without visionary collaboration with likeminded organisations, businesses and people with a passion for the natural world.

With continued support from partners and collaborators on this impact driven journey, our dream for Africa-led storytelling, conservation and science can be brought to life in new ways.

Come and join us!

>>  We've launched our newsroom

Photograph by Qiniso Dladla / NEWF

If you're interested in news from our broader community, as well as global press and media coverage - this page is for you.

2025 has been an exciting year for our communications department as we strategically redefined how to bring you news, in-depth human and impact stories, punchy social media and engaging multimedia visuals from our team and community. 
 

Stay tuned as we grow and elevate our digital storytelling. 

>>  WHAT'S THE #NEWF2025 HYPE?

Are you passionate about access, inclusion and the expansion of local audiences for African-led nature, environment and wildlife filmmaking?

We will soon be opening registration to join impactful industry sessions, workshops, pitching and networking as we redefine and refocus the narrative in nature, environment and wildlife filmmaking.

If you're wondering what the NEWF Fellows Summit & Congress Hype is about - glance back to #NEWF2024.

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