South Africa’s Durban FilmMart (DFM) has announced that projects can now be submitted for its 16th edition, which takes place in July 2025. The submissions window will close on 19 January.
The last edition of the popular film market, its15th, saw the selection of film projects including The Moon Can’t Run from South Africa, as well as Benimana from Ivory Coast, Jua Kali from Kenya, Londoner from Nigeria, and Dear Tarkovsky from Tunisia, and The Legend of Hyena Man from Tanzania.
Filmmakers seeking co-producers, financiers, sales agents, streamers, broadcasters, and funders are to submit their feature-length fiction and documentary film projects or episodic/series content in development. To be eligible, projects must have at least one African citizen in a key creative role, such as writer, director, or producer.
An independent selection panel will choose up to 20 projects from the submissions, with successful applicants announced in early May 2025. These selected projects will then benefit from a mentorship programme and participate in the Pitch and Finance Forum in Durban.
How to Apply
African filmmakers with active feature-length or episodic projects in development are encouraged to apply. While the programme is open to both fiction and documentary projects, with no language restrictions, project applications must be completed in English. And, at least, one project representative must be available to participate in the mentorship programme and attend the film market.
According to the organisers, the event is “designed to generate visibility for African content and talent and create partnerships to further the development and production of African cinema”.
The Durban FilmMart added that in addition to the Pitch ad Finance Forum, it 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“.
Submissions can be made through the Durban FilmMart Institute website. The deadline for applications is January 19, 2025.
