DFM announces selected African projects at Cannes

Nineteen documentaries and fiction feature film projects from around Africa have been selected from 120 submissions by African filmmakers who wished to participate in the continent's premier finance and co-production market.

A joint initiative between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival, the Durban FilmMart aims to raise the visibility of African cinema, stimulate production on the continent and facilitate project collaboration between African filmmakers. The DFM creates an optimum platform for African filmmakers, financiers, broadcasters and top film experts to converge, network and spark creative thinking around current and future projects.

A Reader Panel, comprising African and international film professionals had to moderate and score submissions, culminating in a rigorous selection discussion over shortlisted projects in both the documentary and fiction section.

These feature and documentary filmmakers will be attending the DFM for one-on-one meetings with potential investors and co-producers in the Finance Forum. The projects will also have an opportunity to pitch to a panel of commissioning editors from local and international funders and financiers. The selected project participants will also be given opportunities to network and meet industry professionals during several scheduled industry sessions.

Selected Projects

9 Documentaries

1. After Marikana - The End of Democracy (South Africa), Producer Anita Khanna, Director Rehad Desai
2. Amal (Egypt) Producer Sara Bökemeyer, Director Mohamed Siam
3. Life and Times of John C (South Africa) Producer Neil Brandt, Director Francois Verster
4. Truck Mama (Kenya) Producer Zipporah Nyaruri, Director Zipporah Nyaruri, Co-director Peggy Mbiyu
5. Not in My Neighbourhood (South Africa) Producer and Director Kurt Orderson
6. Project Delight (South Africa) Producer and Director Karin Slater
7. Terre Jaune (Togo) Producers Sitou Ayite and Madje Ayite with Elisabeth Guthmann, Director Bouna Cherif Fofana and Sitou Ayite
8. The Other Half of the African Sky (Zimbabwe) Producer and Director Tapiwa Chipfupa
9. The Rainbow: Jazz for the Struggle, and the Struggle for Jazz (South Africa) Producer Antoinette Engel, Director Niren Tolsi

10 Fiction

1. Cactus Flower (Egypt) Producer Hossam Elouan, Director Hala Elkoussy
2. Inkabi (The Hitman) (South Africa) Producer Anco Henning, Director Norman Maake
3. Laughter is the best Colour (Nigeria) Producer Mohammed Musulumi, Director Chike Ibekwe
4. On the Way to Paradise (South Africa) Producer Imraan Jeeva, Director Sara Blecher
5. One More Night in Lagos (Cote d'Ivoire) Producer Tosin Coker, Director Marina Niava
6. Riot Waif (South Africa) Producer Jean Meeran, Director Zinaid Meeran
7. Selma and Charlize (South Africa) Producer Junaid Ahmed/Helena Spring, Director Robyn Aronstam
8. Sunflowers Behind a Dirty Fence (Uganda) Producer Nathan Magoola, Director Simon Mukali
9. The Tall Assassin (South Africa) Producer Carolyn Carew, Director Roy Zetisky
10. Unbalance (Ghana) Producer Akousa Adoma Owusu, Director P. Sam Kessie

The DFM also invites filmmakers who do not have projects selected for the market and industry professionals, to attend as delegates for the programme of masterclasses, forums and networking events during the four-day market.

Registration is now open and early bird rates apply until 27 June 2015. Delegates, who register within the early bird window, get discounted registration rates and inclusion in the DFM's Industry Manual, a valuable networking tool during and after the market.

For more information, go to www.durbanfilmmart.com.