SOCIAL FILM PRODUCTION WITH THE SOUTH
18 September 2025
The Social Film Production with the South is back. This call for submissions, which brings together the world of cinema, including Italian and international film companies, with the Third Sector—nonprofit organizations from Southern Italy—aims to tell the story of Southern Italy through pressing social themes. Now in its third edition, the initiative is supported by Fondazione Con il Sud and Fondazione Apulia Film Commission, providing a total of €500,000 to produce 10 films that explore the exemplary process of social capital development in Southern Italy.
The deadline for submissions is November 3, 2025. Full details and application documents are available at the following link: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS >>
Over its first two editions, Social Film Production with the South supported the creation of 16 documentaries and 4 short films. In addition to being screened in cinemas and broadcast on television channels and digital platforms, these works have been selected by numerous national and international festivals, earning prestigious awards. They continue to spark debate and engagement through screenings, talks, and participatory events in institutional, social, cultural, and educational settings related to the issues they explore.
The documentaries and short films are currently available on Amazon Prime Video, which has a dedicated carousel under “Un Sud mai visto” (A South Never Seen) for the initiative. They are also streaming on Rai Play, helping to fuel and enrich an original narrative about Southern Italy and its social issues for the public.
The initiative is open to partnerships consisting of at least three organizations: the proposing film company must be joined by a minimum of two Third-Sector entities from Southern Italy (Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily). These partners will contribute to the development and promotion of the chosen theme during the conception, production, and dissemination of the audiovisual work. Filming, along with promotional activities in the field, may take place in one or more of the southern regions where Fondazione Con il Sud is active (Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily).
Eligible projects may take the form of documentaries (running between 20 and 52 minutes) or animated short films (with a minimum running time of 10 minutes). Each project may receive up to €50,000 in funding.
Submissions may address one or more social themes outlined in the call. These include:
Common goods and the environment protection, care, and enhancement of the environmental, landscape, and biodiversity heritage, as well as tangible and intangible cultural assets; development of uncultivated or abandoned land, assets confiscated from the mafia, urban peripheries, and community libraries; and promotion of culture and responsible tourism. Legality: education about legality, action against organized crime; creating paths for social and professional integration of incarcerated individuals. Rights: care and inclusion of people with disabilities; care and inclusion of the elderly; support for caregivers; combating sexual and labour exploitation, and integration of migrants; combating violence and promoting gender equality; social housing. New generations: early childcare services; combating school dropout and educational poverty; combating child labour; reception and integration of unaccompanied foreign minors; promoting young talent in the social, economic, and scientific research fields. Active citizenship: promotion of civic engagement and volunteerism; encouraging participation through community sports and urban art. Communities and depopulation: countering low birth rates and depopulation in Southern Italy; promoting demographic, social, and cultural regeneration of communities; supporting social economy as part of local community development. Beyond stereotypes and female perspectives: challenging stereotypical narratives about communities and individuals.
