The Durban FilmMart (DFM) Institute has opened applications for submission of African films in preparation for the 16th edition of the DFM event set for July 2025 in Durban, South Africa.
The DFM festival is the flagship event of the DFM Institute and was named ‘the continent’s best film market’ in UNESCO’s 2021 Film Trends in Africa Report.
The event is designed to generate visibility for African content and talent and create partnerships to further the development and production of African cinema.
Magdalene Reddy, director of the Durban FilmMart Institute stated that 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.
“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 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.
For viability, one of the three key creative roles (writers, directors and producers) needs to be an African citizen.
However, filmmakers looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents, streamers, broadcasters and funders are also invited to submit their projects.
The independent selection panel will choose up to 20 projects in development from the submissions.
The projects submitted must be completed in English, however, the filmmakers are free to create the films in other languages.
The deadline for film applications is January 19, 2025 and the selected projects will be announced in early May 2025.
