LEGACY FILMMAKERS

SHADOWING PROGRAMME

We’re super excited to introduce the LEGACY FILMMAKERS SHADOWING PROGRAMME, an internship for young aspiring documentarians and filmmakers to learn valuable skills through observation and hands-on experience.

A QUICK VIBE CHECK

THEY WILL BE QUEENS is an original documentary film by Gamut 1 that honours the enduring legacy of Cape Town’s queer and trans histories through Salon Kewpie: The Legacy Project, a ballroom-centred celebration of queer youth, culture and resilience.

Salon Kewpie: The Legacy Project is a community-led programme that brings queer and trans youth of colour together with elders, artists, and facilitators from the community to connect with this lineage and with each other.

The programme creates space to explore history, embodiment, self-expression, and collective care. It is intentionally non-corporate, non-extractive, and rooted in lived experience. The people holding the space are people who know it, who have lived it, and who understand what it means to survive and to thrive against all odds.

Many participants arrive believing that queer history began in the 2010s. Some have never seen themselves reflected in the past. Through Salon Kewpie, they learn something powerful: our people have been here all along.

LEGACY FILMMAKERS SHADOWING PROGRAMME

The LEGACY FILMMAKERS SHADOWING PROGRAMME is an internship offering young queer artists interested in self-documentation and documentary filmmaking the opportunity to develop skills and gain professional experience. This internship runs concurrently with Salon Kewpie: The Legacy Project.

We are committed to ensuring that the impact of THEY WILL BE QUEENS extends beyond the screen. By empowering Alumni of Salon Kewpie: The Legacy Project, we are investing in the sustainability of The Legacy Project, as well as in the future of South African artists, ensuring that our communities have the capacity to tell their own powerful stories.

The LEGACY FILMMAKERS SHADOWING PROGRAMME aims to provide

  • Skills Transfer: Provide two selected Legacy Project alumni with hands-on, high-level exposure to documentary film production processes.

  • Capacity Building: Demystify the professional filmmaking environment, offering insight into roles like directing, cinematography, and sound recording.

  • Mentorship: Facilitate direct mentorship with key creative personnel on set during active shooting.

  • Project Sustainability: Establish a pathway for alumni to contribute to the project’s legacy through media literacy and creative expression.

SHAP. WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

The internship is structured in two parts. The first phase is an intensive shadowing and observation programme, aiming to provide maximum learning within a limited timeframe. The interns will be integrated into the main crew during the filming of the 2026 Salon Kewpie: The Legacy Project. This will take place over the course of one week, from 12–18 April.

The second phase affords interns an opportunity to be on a set for formal interviews, provides insight into post production work, and allows participant involvement in facilitating post-screening discussions and feedback sessions.

Interns will be provided with

  • direct mentorship from established industry professionals, including the opportunity to observe queer filmmakers in leading roles.

  • a foundation in technical and creative skills that can be applied to future personal projects or further training.

  • invaluable networking opportunities with the production team and community leaders.

  • a professional letter of recommendation from Gamut 1.

  • credits in the film as professional crew.

SOUNDS GOOD. HOW DO I APPLY?

The LEGACY FILMMAKERS SHADOWING PROGRAMME is open to Legacy Project alumni who are aspiring documentarians and filmmakers.

  • Selection: Interns will be selected based on demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment to queer storytelling, and potential interest in documentary filmmaking.

  • Support: Interns will be provided with a stipend to cover transport or accommodation and meals for the duration of the programme.

  • Safety and Care: The production team of THEY WILL BE QUEENS will prioritise the safety and well-being of the Interns, ensuring a supportive and respectful learning environment at all times, consistent with our commitment to Accountability and Community Care during the production process.

Applications to the LEGACY FILMMAKERS SHADOWING PROGRAMME can be made here.

For enquiries about the programme or application, please contact us.

The deadline for submissions is 20 February 2026.

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