The Durban FilmMart Institute and FilmMart.Africa announce Partnership with Encounters, South African International Documentary Festival.
The 27th Encounters South African International Documentary
Festival runs from June 19 to 29, 2025, and features over 60 international and
African documentaries. Screenings will take place at:
The 2025 Encounters South African International Documentary
Festival is shaped by five powerful themes that reflect our complex global
reality and the role of documentary in navigating it.
Memory, Trauma and Identity delves into personal and collective histories, revealing how memory informs who we are.
Art and Impact celebrates the transformative power of creativity as a catalyst for social and political change, while Agency – Standing up to Power honours the individuals and communities who resist injustice and speak truth to power. Together, these themes create a thought-provoking and timely lens through which to view the world—and ourselves.
Durban FilmMart
Institute Alumni at Encounters
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) is proud to announce the alumni projects which will be showcased at this year’s Encounters Festival:
Opening the festival is How
to Build a Library by Chris King and Maia Lekow.
Featured in the programme:
- Capturing Water
by Rehad Desai
- Womxn: Working
by Shanelle Jewnarain
Participating in the Rough Cut Lab Africa Programme:
- Big Boys Don't Cry
by Mohamed Mustapha
- Truck Mama by
Zippy Nyaruri
These projects, first developed through DFMI’s incubation
and market access programmes, now form part of the continent’s most vital
documentary showcase.
https://filmmart.africa/
Filmmart.Africa Partnership
Through this partnership, Filmmart.Africa becomes a digital
companion to the 27th Encounters South African International Documentary
Festival, offering users access to filmmaker profiles, in-depth project
information, curated insights, and opportunities for connection. This
initiative supports the growth of the African film ecosystem by expanding
access to stories, professionals, and opportunities beyond the physical
festival venues.
Partnerships like this between Filmmart.Africa and Encounters demonstrate the power of aligning platforms, institutions, and storytellers to amplify visibility and accelerate growth. Digital tools are no longer optional—they are essential in enabling access, breaking down borders, and creating the kinds of networks that lead to meaningful, long-term opportunities.
Whether you're a filmmaker, producer, or passionate film enthusiast, Filmmart.Africa is your gateway to engage, connect, and thrive in this dynamic ecosystem.
Sign up today at www.filmmart.africa to explore the Encounters 2025 programme, connect with filmmakers, and access valuable industry insights.
https://filmmart.africa/
About Filmmart.Africa
Filmmart.Africa is a dedicated online platform for Africa’s
film industry. Users can:
* Explore the filmmakers and documentary projects featured
at Encounters 2025
* Discover companies, producers, and collaborators working
across the continent
* Access curated industry resources and insights
* Film events and markets from Africa and around the world,
including major festivals, labs, and networking opportunities
* Build connections with professionals at every level of the
industry
Signing up is free and gives you full access to the
Encounters showcase and the broader Filmmart.Africa network. Visit
www.filmmart.africa to register.
Registration for the 16th Durban FilmMart is OPEN.
Register NOW! (http://durbanfilmmart.co.za/)
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mailto:info@durbanfilmmart.com
The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding
from the Durban Film Office and eThekwini Municipality.