DURBAN FILMMART 2024

Announcing the Selection of Projects and Participants for Talents Durban 2024

15th EDITION

19 – 22 JULY

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) announces the lineup of projects and participants for the 17th edition of Talents Durban, taking place during the Durban FilmMart (DFM) in Durban from 19 – 22 July 2024. As the African satellite programme of the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban holds a significant position within the DFMI’s programming portfolio.

Berlinale Talents is a networking platform organised by the Berlin International Film Festival, offering a space for emerging filmmakers to connect, learn, and collaborate. Talents Durban serves as its African counterpart, providing a similar platform specifically tailored to the continent’s unique filmmaking landscape.

DFMI Director, Magdalene Reddy, explains, “The Durban FilmMart Institute is dedicated to the growth of African cinema through strategic collaborations that enhance access to markets and professional networks. Talents Durban, a core component of this commitment, aligns with Berlinale Talents to facilitate a rigorous developmental platform for emerging filmmakers. This partnership, now in its 17th iteration, leverages both our shared vision and the bold stories that Africa offers. We are particularly focused on providing filmmakers, animators and film critics with the tools and opportunities to bring their work to both regional audiences and the international stage, thereby ensuring sustained development of the continent’s film industry.”

This edition of Talents Durban is distinguished by its inclusion of participants from 15 African countries, who collectively reflect the continent’s diversity of emerging film professionals. The selection process was highly competitive, with a record 499 applications resulting in the choice of 26 distinctive projects and 4 film critics, each bringing a fresh perspective to features, documentaries, shorts, series, animation, and film criticism.

Selected Talents will participate in a series of project–oriented, hands–on skills development programmes. These include sessions such as Story Junction, where participants present their projects to producers and financiers, alongside masterclasses and one–on–one mentorship opportunities. Mounia Aram, Jihane Bougrine, Hawa Essuman, Yanis Gaye, Carol Kioko, Karabo Lediga, Beverly Mitchell, Kethiwe Ngcobo and Laza Razanajatovo, will serve as mentors for the 2024 edition. They will provide invaluable guidance and generously share their expertise with the participants.

Official 2024 Talents Durban Participants and Projects:

FICTION FEATURES

A Time to Wander (Le Temps de L’Errance) – Nakhli Rim (Tunisia) – Director & Screenwriter

Baptism of Silence – Kanya Viljoen (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter

Pepo Kali – Lydia Matata (Kenya) Director & Screenwriter

Revolution (Abyot) – Abigail Megbar Debebe (Ethiopia) – Director & Screenwriter

Rusaro – Jeanpierre NIYIGENA  (Rwanda) – Screenwriter

The Space Maasai – Priscilla Marealle (Tanzania) – Screenwriter

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Akal – Basma Rkioui (Morocco) – Director & Screenwriter

Breaking the Mold – Michael Ansah (Ghana) – Director

The devil, The Tune and God  – Lukhanyo Kumkani (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter

Kloho (Héritage) – Estelle KONE (Côte d’Ivoire) – Director

My Dream to Fly – Asmaa El-gafrie (Egypt) – Cinematographer & Director

Tiny Grain, Big War – Leul Shoaferaw (Ethiopia) – Producer & Audience Designer

SHORTS

ADAME – Binetou FAYE (Senegal) – Screenwriter & Director

Langalanga – Fofo “Togbe” Gavua (Ghana) – Director & Screenwriter

Nebula – Michel Doss (Egypt) – Director & Screenwriter

STAY – Tomi Folowosele (Nigeria) – Screenwriter

The Mountain in the Sea (Hoerikwaggo) – Leandros Brown (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter

Trust Me (Ngithembe) – Samke Makhoba (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter

SERIES

Grève  – ADANNOU Gildas (Benin) Director & Screenwriter

The Mind of Alkebulan – Esther Beukes (Namibia) Director & Screenwriter

Rue 6 – Djeydi Djigo (Senegal) Screenwriter

VigilAunties – Loren Loubser (South Africa)Director & Screenwriter

ANIMATION

Baby Blue – Allyssa Peters (South Africa) – Animation Director

Hunt Me Not – Noella Luka (Kenya)  – Animation Director

Taste Buds – Palesa Lebona (South Africa) – Director & Screenwriter

Together (Tomodomo) – Love Kanebi (Nigeria) – Animation Director

TALENTS PRESS

Tony Asankomah (Ghana) – Film Critic/Journalist

Bob Perfect (South Africa) – Film Critic/Journalist

Timothy Niwamanya (Uganda) – Film Critic/Journalist

Youssra el-Sharkawy (Egypt) – Film Critic/Journalist

The Heads of Berlinale Talents, Nikola Joetze and Florian Weghorn, highlight their

anticipation, stating: “Over the many years of our trusted partnership, Talents Durban has grown into a central hub on the continent, where project development, training and lasting exchange come together in the most sustainable way. We are extremely proud to welcome also this year’s very strong selection of participants to the global Talents community.

As the premier film market in Africa, the 15th edition of the Durban FilmMart, under the theme “African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability,” welcomes industry professionals to Durban for a four–day engagement. The event is designed to host discussions and build on industry knowledge and ideas about storytelling and contemporary cultural dynamics within the film industry. DFM celebrates the innovative and creative talents who are crafting the future narrative of African cinema.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

IS OPEN

Early Bird registration for participation closed on 31 May.