By Ogova Ondego
Published May 8, 2024
Talents Durban, a networking platform that offers space for emerging filmmakers to connect, learn, and collaborate, has announced the lineup of participants selected for its 17th edition scheduled for July 19 – 22, 2024 in South Africa.
The selected talents from 15 African countries and who, collectively, are being touted as being a reflection of Africa’s diversity of emerging film professionals, will participate in a series of project–oriented, hands–on skills development programmes. These include sessions such as Story Junction, where participants present their projects to producers and financiers, alongside masterclasses and one–on–one mentorship opportunities.
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Participants and Projects Selected for 17th Talents Durban are:
Animation
- Baby Blue – Allyssa Peters (South Africa) – Animation Director
- Hunt Me Not – Noella Luka (Kenya) – Animation Director
- Taste Buds – Palesa Lebona (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter
- Together (Tomodomo) – Love Kanebi (Nigeria) – Animation Director.
Documentary Features
- Akal – Basma Rkioui (Morocco) – Director & Screenwriter
- Breaking the Mold – Michael Ansah (Ghana) – Director
- The devil, The Tune and God – Lukhanyo Kumkani (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter
- Kloho (Héritage) – Estelle KONE (Côte d’Ivoire) – Director
- My Dream to Fly – Asmaa El-gafrie (Egypt) – Cinematographer & Director
- Tiny Grain, Big War – Leul Shoaferaw (Ethiopia) – Producer & Audience Designer.
Fiction Features
- A Time to Wander (Le Temps de L’Errance) – Nakhli Rim (Tunisia) – Director & Screenwriter
- Baptism of Silence – Kanya Viljoen (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter
- Pepo Kali – Lydia Matata (Kenya) Director & Screenwriter
- Revolution (Abyot) – Abigail Megbar Debebe (Ethiopia) – Director & Screenwriter
- Rusaro – Jeanpierre NIYIGENA (Rwanda) – Screenwriter
- The Space Maasai – Priscilla Marealle (Tanzania) – Screenwriter.
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Series
- Grève – ADANNOU Gildas (Benin) Director & Screenwriter
- The Mind of Alkebulan – Esther Beukes (Namibia) Director & Screenwriter
- Rue 6 – Djeydi Djigo (Senegal) Screenwriter
- VigilAunties – Loren Loubser (South Africa)Director & Screenwriter.
Shorts
- ADAME – Binetou FAYE (Senegal) – Screenwriter & Director
- Langalanga – Fofo “Togbe” Gavua (Ghana) – Director & Screenwriter
- Nebula – Michel Doss (Egypt) – Director & Screenwriter
- STAY – Tomi Folowosele (Nigeria) – Screenwriter
- The Mountain in the Sea (Hoerikwaggo) – Leandros Brown (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter
- Trust Me (Ngithembe) – Samke Makhoba (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter.
Talent Press
- Tony Asankomah (Ghana) – Film Critic/Journalist
- Bob Perfect (South Africa) – Film Critic/Journalist
- Timothy Niwamanya (Uganda) – Film Critic/Journalist
- Youssra el-Sharkawy (Egypt) – Film Critic/Journalist.
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Aram, Jihane Bougrine, Hawa Essuman, Yanis Gaye, Carol Kioko, Karabo Lediga, Beverly Mitchell, Kethiwe Ngcobo and Laza Razanajatovo, will serve as mentors for the 2024 edition. They will provide invaluable guidance and generously share their expertise with the participants.
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Magdalene Reddy, Director of DFMI, says: “The Durban FilmMart Institute is dedicated to the growth of African cinema through strategic collaborations that enhance access to markets and professional networks. Talents Durban, a core component of this commitment, aligns with Berlinale Talents to facilitate a rigorous developmental platform for emerging filmmakers. This partnership, now in its 17th iteration, leverages both our shared vision and the bold stories that Africa offers. We are particularly focused on providing filmmakers, animators and film critics with the tools and opportunities to bring their work to both regional audiences and the international stage, thereby ensuring sustained development of the continent’s film industry.”
Organised by DFMI in the framework of its annual Durban FilmMart (DFM) project, Talents Durban is the African satellite programme of Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents.
