Durban FilmMart announces selection for this year's event

DFM is a joint collaboration between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival. It aims to raise the visibility of Africa cinema, stimulate film production on the continent and facilitate project collaborations amongst African filmmakers. As a result, it creates an ideal environment for African filmmakers, broadcasters and top film experts to come together and engage in critical dialogue and creative thinking about future projects. In addition, it is an important networking event for filmmakers from around the globe and has become an important springboard for African projects to be realised.

“We are delighted with the range of projects and countries represented at this year's DFM,” says Toni Monty, head of the DFO. “We look forward to welcoming and engaging with these filmmakers and being a facilitator and catalyst for the development of their films. We have seen so many projects go on to be awarded further opportunities to develop at various other markets, and eventually be screened in cinemas and festivals around the world, and have no doubt that many of these projects will follow the same path. In previous years, and including this year, past DFM projects have been selected for the Durban International Film Festival, testimony to the value this market adds to the development process.”

Documentary

• Dungeon Keepers - South Africa. Producer: James Walsh, director: James Walsh
  
• For Your Precious Love – South Africa. Producers: Steve Buxt, David Heitner, director: Keith Jones
  
• Hatim’s Dream - Uganda. Producer: Nathan Magoola, director: Matthew Bishanga
  
• Lift like a Girl – Egypt. Producer: Mayye Zayed, co-producer: Moritz Helmes, director: Amrosh Badr
  
• Spirits of the Karoo – South Africa. Producer: Zinzi Nkenene, directors: Engelbert Phiri and Zinzi Nkenene
  
• Testament – Kenya. Producer: Meena Nanji, directors: Meena Nanji and Zippy Kimundu
  
• The Letter – Kenya. Producers: Maia von Lekow and Chris King, directors: Maia von Lekow and Chris King
  
• Voetsak! Us, Brothers? – South Africa. Producer: Trish Urquhart, co-producer: Sean Moloi, director: Andy Spitz
  
• Where we Belong – Ghana/South Africa. Producer: Osei Owusu Banahene, director: Ben Johnson
  
• Wiz of Zim – South Africa. Producers: Lesedi Oluko Moche and Carolyn Carew, director: Samora Sekhukhune

Fiction

• Abnormal Loads – South Africa. Producers: Elias Ribeiro, Cait Panesgrouw, director: Neil Coppen
  
• Disco Afrika – Madagascar. Producer: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck, executive producers: Herizo Rabary and Randriamantsoa, director: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck
  
• Down and Dirty – South Africa. Producers: Damir Radonic and Angie Mills, director: Angie Mills
  
• Headland – South Africa. Producer: David Horler, director: Elan Gamaker
  
• Imprisoned – South Africa. Producer: Suda Sing, director: Jayan Moodley
  
• Inga, Inge – Zimbabwe. Producer: Veronique Doumbe, director: Tsitsi Dangarembga
  
• People You May Know – South Africa. Producer: Laurence Hamburger, director: Zandile Tisani
  
• The Mango Tree that Danced with Sea Breeze – Kenya. Producer: Lungeleni Zondi, director: Phillippa Ndsi-Herrmann
  
• Un Fils – Tunisia. Producer: Habib Attia, director: Mehdi M. Barsaoui

These fiction 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.

Delegates welcomed

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 all details are available on the DFM website www.durbanfilmmart.co.za.

Partners of this year’s DFM include AfriDocs, CineMart, Durban Tourism, Goethe-Institut, Hot docs Blue Ice Fund, International Documentary Film, Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), KZN Film Commission, National Film and Video Foundation, Produire au Sud, Restless Talent Management, Sørfond, Sundance Institute, Talents Durban, Versfeld & Associates and VideoVision Entertainment.