CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 25 August 2026. Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) and SAE Institute Cape Town (SAE) have once again partnered for the annual Animation Student Awards. CTIAF’s Animation Student Award is a long-standing tradition on the animation calendar, and SAE is oNering one exceptional Grade 12 student a full tuition bursary.”
Submit your best animation work via CTIAF, and you could walk away with your entire tuition covered at one of the industry’s leading creative institutes. The bursary covers full tuition for the three-year Bachelor of Arts in Motion Design and Animation, valued at over R360 000. The programme is offered exclusively at SAE’s Cape Town campus and begins with the March 2027 intake. Applicants must be on track to complete their matric by then. Full terms and conditions are available on the CTIAF website.
Entries close on 25 September 2026. To submit, click on this form link
SAE will shortlist candidates with input from CTIAF, and every shortlisted entrant will be interviewed by the SAE team before a winner is chosen
The winner will be announced live at Cape Town International Animation Festival annual Student Awards, hosted on the SAE Cape Town campus on 14 November. The bursary will be awarded provisionally based on preliminary results, subject to confirmation once final matric results are released.
“SAE is proud to partner with CTIAF to oNer this bursary to a next-generation animator. As we celebrate our 50th year at the forefront of creative media education globally, we are committed to investing in emerging talent and helping remove barriers for those with passion and potential. We can’t wait to give the winner this opportunity. Animation is a thriving industry rich in creativity, storytelling, art, and profound impact, and supporting the next generation of animators is how we help shape its future.” – Says Cameron Lawry, Managing Executive at SAE Institute Cape Town.
About SAE Institute
SAE Cape Town is one of 47 campuses across 23 countries. Founded in Australia 50 years ago, SAE has grown into a global leader in creative media education, bringing hands-on, industry-focused training to aspiring creatives worldwide. SAE Institute South Africa is a Private Higher Education Institution registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. Based at the De Waterkant Centre in Green Point, Cape Town, SAE delivers practical, industry-accredited programmes in Animation, Audio, Film and Games. Courses are taught by working industry experts in state-of-the-art facilities and are available full-time, part-time or online. SAE offers a full range of qualifications, including postgraduate programmes, Bachelor of Arts degrees, Higher Certificates and short learning programmes, all designed to equip students with the real-world skills needed to thrive in the creative industries.
Learn more at https://www.sae.edu.za/
About Cape Town International Animation Festival
The Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) is Africa’s leading platform for animation professionals, students and enthusiasts. Now in its second decade, the festival runs annually in Cape Town, bringing together storytellers, artists and creators from across the African continent and around the world for exclusive screenings, masterclasses, industry panels, workshops and networking sessions. CTIAF has hosted Academy Award-winning directors and artists, and has helped spark international co-productions and launch projects with global reach. The Festival is dedicated to celebrating African animation as an art form and growing the continent’s creative industry. For more information, visit www.ctiaf.com.
Media Contacts
SAE Institute Cape Town
Email: CPT@sae.edu.za
Tel: +27 87 057 1972
CTIAF
Stacey Pearson
Email: marketing@ctiaf.com
Tel: +27 83 444 0411