Africa’s Co-Production and Finance Market Selects Projects for Support

8 months ago
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by LolaKenyaScreen.Org
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By Khalifa Hemed
Published April 24, 2024

Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced the projects selected for its Pitch and Finance Forum during its 15th annual Durban FilmMart (DFM) scheduled for July 19 – 22, 2024.

“This year, 30 compelling projects in development will participate in the Pitch and Finance Forum, a pivotal platform where filmmakers convene to network with global broadcasters, financiers, streamers, sales agents, festival programmers and producers,” DFMI says. “This interaction is crucial for acquiring the necessary support to transition projects from development to production, ultimately bringing diverse African narratives to both regional and international audiences.”

The selected projects are:

Fiction Features

Acts of Man (South Africa) – Producer: Sean Drummond and Director: Sheetal Magan
Benimana (Ivory Coast) – Producer: Samantha Biffot and Director: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
Dear Tarkovsky (Tunisia) – Producer: Asma Chiboub and Director: Firas Khoury
Garde Baissée (Guard Down) (Egypt, France, Tunisia) – Producers: Imed Marzouk, Mark Lotfy and Director: Sami Tlili
Jua Kali (Kenya) – Producer: Joash Omondi
Londoner (Nigeria) – Producer: Pamela Drameh and Director: Babatunde Apalowo
Mimouna (Algeria) – Producer: Jeremie Palanque and Director: Amel Blidi
Numalali (My Voice, My Void) (Guatemala) – Producer: Kurt Orderson and Director: Kimeshree Munsamy
Pour Toi Je Reviendrai (I’m Coming For You) (Cameroon) – Producer: Alice Abah and Director: Cyrielle Raingou
Solar (South Africa) – Producer and Director: Jason Jacobs
The Moon Can’t Run (South Africa) – Producer: Shveta Naidoo and Director: Naishe Nyamubaya
The Pathfinder (South Africa) – Producer and Director: Rafieka Davis.

2. Documentary Features

A Girl and a Gun (South Africa) – Producer: Antoinette Engel and Director: Arya Lalloo
Africa AI (South Africa) – Producer: Amílcar Patel and Directors: Amílcar Patel and Chris Kets
Children of Honey (Tanzania, United Kingdom) – Producer: Natalie Humphreys and Director: Jigar Ganatra
In Pursuit of Ghosts (South Africa) – Producer: Jacintha de Nobrega and Director: Jethro Clifton Westraad
Kam Leila Kam Youm? (How Many Nights How Many Days?) (Egypt) – Producer: Kesmat Elsayed and Director: Alaa Dajani
My Father Killed Bourguiba (Tunisia) – Producer: Sarra Ben Hassan and Director: Fatma Riahi
The One Who Sings (South Africa) – Producers: Chelsea Art and Cameron Lawry and Director: Chelsea Art
Unsung (South Africa) – Producer: Masechaba Khumalo and Director: Amanda Lane
We Had The Moon (Mauritius) – Producer and Director: Pamela Eduoard
Zerri3a Morra (Algeria, France) – Producer: Antoine Goldet and Director: Camelia Gadhgadhi.

3. Animation Projects

Jay Fly (South Africa) – Producer: Nosipho Maketo van den Bragt and Director: Tiaan Franken
Monster Nanny (South Africa, Zimbabwe) – Producer: Kaya Kuhn and Director: Tafadzwa Hove
Oarona (South Africa) – Producers: AJ Pitre and Thandiwe Mlauli and Director: Thandiwe Mlauli
R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Motion) (Egypt) – Producer: Ahmad Abdelhameed and Director: Mahmoud Hemeda
The Legend of Hyena Man (Tanzania) – Producer: Mathew Valerian and Directors: Elshadye Berhanu and Joshua Faber
The Legends of Bulan (Nigeria) – Producer: Ferdinand Adimefe and Director: Azubuike Joseph Duru
Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes (Kenya) – Producer: Sarah Mallia and Director: Chief Nyamweya
Unseen (South Africa) – Producer – Annemarie du Plessis.

“This year’s diverse array of narratives showcases the creativity, adaptability, and inquisitiveness of filmmakers throughout the continent,” Magdalene Reddy, Director of the DFMI, says of the selection. “Our filmmakers are tackling complex subjects and presenting fresh perspectives to worldwide audiences. The chosen projects weave through the intricacies of identity, tradition, and modernity, among other themes. They not only explore historical legacies and their lasting effects but also highlight the vibrant interaction between cultural preservation and innovation. These ideas are vital for deepening our understanding of the social, environmental, and ethical contexts that influence contemporary African societies and their filmic representations.”