A residency program for people in social justice to take the time and space to advance their work alongside a global community of co-conspirators.
The Bertha Accelerator creates a space where social justice advocates from around the world can come together to re-think, re-organize and re-inspire themselves. Accelerators bring together a global community of co-conspirators to brainstorm challenges, connect with one another and leave re-charged, taking what they’ve learned back to their movements and organizations at home.
We know that social justice work is wide-ranging and takes form in a variety ways, so each Bertha Accelerator is curated around a different theme or pressing social justice issue, to make space for this.
Bertha Film Accelerator: Politics & Power
A Residency Program for Documentary Makers From the African Continent
5-13 April 2025, Cape Town, South Arica
The Bertha Film Accelerator is a transformative eight-day residency designed to support bold, justice-driven documentary filmmakers from across Africa. Hosted at the Bertha Retreat in the Cape Winelands, South Africa, the Film Accelerator provides a rare opportunity for filmmakers to step away from production pressures and immerse themselves in creative development, collaboration and critical thinking alongside peers and mentors.
Find out how to get involved with Accelerators below!
The activities of the Film Accelerator will include daily workshops, peer feedback and collaboration on projects; mentorship from seasoned filmmakers, editors and producers; and time to brainstorm, reflect and refine your documentary.
For more information on attending the Film Accelerator, please contact Dela Gwala at dela@berthaspaces.org
We are inviting foundations, and aligned organisations, to support courageous or social impact film makers from the African continent, challenging power through sponsoring participation in the 2026 edition of the Bertha Film Accelerator.
For more information on partnering with us, please contact Dela Gwala at dela@berthaspaces.org
In November 2024 the first ever Bertha Accelerator came to life and fifteen activists from around the world came together to reflect, rest and be re-inspired. All were connected through a common focus on creating and holding physical spaces that advance social justice. The Accelerator was hosted at Bertha Retreat on Boschendal Wine Farm and in the city of Cape Town itself, in partnership with Bertha House and Philippi Village with accommodation at Dorp, a boutique hotel.
The 2025 Bertha Accelerator was held at Postane in Istanbul’s historic Galata district. The program offered space to explore the power of communication for social change in a vibrant setting rooted in activism and community. As storytelling shapes public opinion and mobilizes communities, activists must craft ethical, values-driven narratives that connect with audiences. Participants gained practical skills from experts in media, communications and movement building to shift narratives, build community and inspire action.
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