By Iminza Keboge
Published December 3, 2024
The 16th annual Durban FilmMart (DFM), scheduled for July 2025 in Durban, South Africa, invites filmmakers across Africa to send in their best works.
DFM, the flagship event of the Durban FilmMart Institute that was in 2021 named ‘the continent’s best film market’ by UNESCO’s Film Trends in Africa Report, is designed to generate visibility for African content and talent and create partnerships to further the development and production of African cinema.
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“Many filmmakers who pitch at DFM go on to participate at international labs and markets to further develop their projects and build their network of international partners and collaborators,” says Magdalene Reddy, director of DFMI. “Over the past 16 years, over 80 DFM alumni projects have become films and have screened and won awards at festivals around the world. Most recently two alumni participants had their films premiere at the The Venice International Film Festival and one at The Toronto International Film Festival”
The DFM Pitch and Finance Forum is open to feature length fiction and documentary film projects and episodic/series content in development. One of the three key creative roles (writers, directors and producers) needs to be an African citizen. Filmmakers that are looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents, streamers, broadcasters and funders, are invited to submit. The independent selection panel will choose up to 20 projects in development from the submissions. Selected projects will be announced in early May 2025.
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Application criteria:
● The programme is open to African filmmakers with an active feature length or episodic projects in development.
● The programme is open to both fiction and documentary projects.
● At least one of the 3 key creatives (Producer, Writer, Director) must be from Africa or from the African Diaspora.
● Project applications must be completed in English, however the language of the project itself is up to the imagination of the filmmaker.
● At least one project representative must be available to participate in the mentorship programme and be present in Durban for the duration of the 15th Durban FilmMart.
Applications can be made through DFMI’s website.
The deadline for applications January 19, 2025.
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Durban FilmMart has earned the reputation as a key platform for industry professionals attracting almost 1500 delegates from 58 countries over the 4 day-event in 2024. In addition to the Pitch ad Finance Forum, the DFM will present a robust industry programme and networking events enabling filmmakers to connect with an array of significant representatives from the industry both locally and internationally.
