The Durban FilmMart Institute and FilmMart.Africa announce partnership
with the 46th Durban International Film Festival.
The organisers say: We’re excited to announce a new partnership between Filmmart.Africa and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) - Southern Africa’s oldest and most prestigious film festival. As DIFF marks its 46th edition, this collaboration brings the festival experience into the digital realm, expanding its reach and fostering deeper industry connections through the Filmmart.Africa platform.
** DIFF 2025: Now Available on Filmmart.Africa
Visit FilmMart.Africa website now (https://filmmart.africa/)
The 46th edition of the Durban International Film Festival
takes place from July 17 to 27, 2025, presenting a diverse selection of over 80
films, including features, shorts, and documentaries from around the world.
Screenings will be held in Durban at:
Commercial Venues
-Suncoast CineCentre
-Pavilion Nu Metro
-Ballito Nu Metro
-Watercrest Ster Kinekor
Outreach
Venues
CAP Studio
-Denis Hurley Centre
-K-CAP
-Luthuli Museum
-Wushwini Pan African Arts Centre
This year’s programme reflects a commitment to bold, resonant
cinema that speaks to contemporary social, political, and personal realities.
It includes curated sections spotlighting African innovation, youth voices,
global stories, and experimental forms, inviting audiences into rich, complex
conversations about the world we live in.
The full festival schedule is now live on both the DIFF website (https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/) and Filmmart.Africa. (https://filmmart.africa) Audiences and industry professionals can browse the film lineup, access filmmaker profiles, and engage with the programme through the Filmmart.Africa platform.
** Durban
FilmMart Institute Alumni at DIFF 2025
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) is proud to celebrate
several alumni projects featured in this year’s DIFF programme. These works,
incubated and supported through DFMI’s labs, mentorships, and markets, are a
testament to the institute’s role in elevating African voices
Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa
Black Burns
Fast by Sandulela Asanda
Fleas
(Amazeze) by Jordy Sank
God’s Work by Michael
James
The Home by Jessie
Zinn
The Legend of
the Vagabond Queen of Lagos by The Agbajowo Collective: James Tayler,
Ogungbamila Temitope, Okechukwu Samuel, Mathew Cerf, Tina Edukpo, Bisola
Akinmuyiwa, A.S. Elijah
These films are part of a growing catalogue of DFMI alumni
making meaningful contributions to African and global cinema.
** Filmmart.Africa Partnership
Through this partnership, Filmmart.Africa serves as the
essential digital extension of DIFF 2025, providing users with comprehensive
access to filmmaker profiles, detailed project information, curated festival
insights, and valuable networking opportunities. This collaboration strengthens
the African film ecosystem by broadening access to compelling stories, industry
professionals, and meaningful opportunities well beyond the physical festival
venues.
Partnerships like the one between Filmmart.Africa and DIFF illustrate the transformative power of uniting platforms, institutions, and storytellers to amplify visibility and accelerate industry growth. In today’s interconnected landscape, digital tools are indispensable—they transcend geographical and logistical barriers, fostering the collaborative networks that drive sustainable, long-term success.
Whether you are a filmmaker, producer, or dedicated film enthusiast, Filmmart.Africa is your gateway to engage, connect, and thrive within Africa’s vibrant and evolving film community.
Sign up today at www.filmmart.africa to explore the DIFF 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 Explore the filmmakers and
documentary projects featured at DIFF 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 DIFF
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/)
mailto:info@durbanfilmmart.com
The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from
the Durban Film Office and eThekwini Municipality.
** The Durban
FilmMart Institute Announces
** The Selected Participants for the 4th Edition of DFM Access 2025
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) is proud to announce the selected participants for the fourth edition of DFM Access, an 8-week development platform for early-career South African producers. Taking place during May, June, and August 2025, this year's programme will support 23 emerging South African filmmakers.
DFM Access provides a nurturing framework for participants with active feature-length or episodic independent film projects in development, helping them hone and improve their scripts and project packages. With support from the National Film and Video Foundation PESP 5 funding, this online incubation programme supports producers in shaping their stories, preparing project presentations, and understanding the marketplace to create effective strategies for current projects and plan their professional trajectory.
Magdalene Reddy, Director of the DFMI, commented on the programme: "The Durban FilmMart Institute recognises the importance of nurturing new talent and providing access into an industry that can sometimes be intimidating and challenging for a new producer. DFM Access is one of the DFMI's year-round programme offerings that helps emerging producers navigate the film industry to achieve their production goals. The programme is intentionally designed to provide access and offer insights that help producers prepare to package and pitch their projects with confidence."
Over the past three years, DFMI has seen almost 58 first-time producers acquire the skills and knowledge to successfully participate in local and international markets. The success of the programme was evident in the previous edition, where three DFM Access participants were selected to pitch at the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum.
** Selected Participants and Projects
This year's cohort features 23 promising South African
producers, representing diverse storytelling approaches across fiction,
documentary, and animation formats. The selected participants will benefit from
one-on-one mentorship and expert-led talks throughout the programme.
** Documentary Features:
A Bed called Home
produced and directed by Themba Baleni
Dead Archives
produced by Pumelelo Christopher Sobinca and directed by Ntsika Ngini-Ngini
Dispossess
produced by Carol Pam Zokufa and directed by Nkululeko Zokufa
MDANTSANE - HOME OF
BOXING produced and directed by Pumlani Veto
Ocean Acidification
along South Africa's Coastline produced and directed by Michelle Simon
Of Song and Silence:
Indwe and AbaThembu produced and directed by
Tsakane Maubane
Ruth Mompati: A Life
Of Courage produced and directed by Diliza Moabi
Vredefort Dome: An
African Perspective On A Cosmic Catatlysm produced and directed by Mohau
Kwebu
** Fiction Features:
Dead but Barely
Breathing produced by Babalwa Rasane-Eidnerand directed by Jonathan
Parkinson
Ekhaya produced by
Nobulali Kama and directed by Kagiso Latane
Howick Falls
produced and directed by Nhlakanipho Mashinini
MIER produced by Rafiq
Samsodien and directed by Oliver North
The Trip produced
by Mbalentle Fikeni and directed by Faith Riyano
Waslap produced
and directed by Batandwa Alperstein
Xola (Working
Title) produced by Sinomtha Nduna and directed by Miselwa Ngamlana
** Series:
BHODLOZA NZIMANDE:
the legendary DJ who Amplified the Maskandi Revolution produced and directed by
Philile Nzimande
JARIAH produced
and directed by Thubelihle Sithole
uNodoli ukhenketha
Ezilalini produced and directed by Azola
Ntlantsana
My Mense produced
and directed by Akhona Sitshinga
Reycation produced
and directed by Holly Wasserfall
Strandfontein
produced By Mark Haines Jaco van Bosch and directed by Jaco Bosch
The Coven produced
by Siphesihle Mthembu and directed by Mqondisi Ngubane
The Bush Life
produced by Karly Poyer and directed by Ian Morgan
These projects will be mentored by some of South Africa’s
leading film professionals; Jacintha de Nobrega; Tracey-Lee Rainers; Sihle
Hlophe; Tiny Mungwe; Bongi Ndaba; Kethiwe Ngcobo; Busisiwe Ntintili; Teboho
Pietersen; Miki Redelinghuys; Nicole Schafer; Bonie Sithebe and Thandeka Zwana.
The 2025 DFM Access programme continues to focus on developing emerging South African filmmaking talent and fostering the skills needed to succeed in the competitive global film industry, in-line with the Durban FilmMart Institutes ethos of creating access for filmmakers of all backgrounds and experience to not only highlight the work of filmmakers, but to elevate the industry as a whole.
Visit the website to find out more (https://durbanfilmmart.co.za)
** Registration for
the 16th Durban FilmMart is OPEN
Register NOW! (http://durbanfilmmart.co.za/)
https://facebook.com/
https://instagram.com/
https://linkedin.com/
https://youtube.com/
mailto:info@durbanfilmmart.com
The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding
from the Durban Film Office and eThekwini Municipality.
For more information link to https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/
To visit the Durban International Film Festival,
visit the Centre for Creative Arts website – click on the advert to the top
right-hand side of this page.
Posts
