 |
Talents Durban 2026 announces 19th edition participantsThe Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has unveiled the official participant selection for Talents Durban 2026, running 9–12 October as part of the Durban FilmMart (DFM).  Image supplied. Now in its 19th year, the African satellite of Berlinale Talents has received a record 551 applications, with 32 participants selected across fiction, documentary, animation, episodic content and film criticism. A record year for African storytellingThis year’s cohort spans 18 countries and a wide mix of formats, from features and shorts to episodic work, animation and criticism. Participants will take part in Story Junction pitching sessions, masterclasses, mentorship engagements, and one-on-one consultations with industry experts. DFMI director Magdalene Reddy says the programme remains central to long-term industry growth, “Talents Durban is central to this vision. Now in its 19th year of partnership with Berlinale Talents, this collaboration continues to contribute meaningfully to the sustainability of the African film ecosystem.” Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards OurselvesThe 17th edition of the Durban FilmMart runs under the theme Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves, inspired by the words of Ousmane Sembène, often called the "father of African cinema": “Why be a sunflower and turn toward the sun? I, myself, am the sun.” The theme reflects a shift towards self-defined storytelling, with a focus on local ownership, new funding pathways, and more equitable ways of making and distributing African film. 2026 official participants and projectsFiction features:Kelvin Kagambo: Dogi Dogi (Tanzania) Documentaries:Ahmed Shams Nagm Eldin: SABARY (Sudan) Fiction shorts:Daisy Masembe: Rukia (Uganda) Episodic:Cheyi Okoaye: Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences? (Nigeria) Animation:Jack Machiridza: All You Sheep (Zimbabwe) Talent press:Elijah Oluwanisola (Nigeria)  Industry voices shaping the workMentors include Akosua Adoma Owusu, Amine Hattou, Bongi Ndaba, Comfort Arthur, Jihane Bougrine, Mayye Zayed, Nicole Schafer, Oris Aigbokhaevbolo, Ramadan Suleman, and Razanaja Ambinintsoa Luck. A newsroom, reimaginedThe Talent Press stream introduces a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Digital Newsroom model, simulating a live festival newsroom instead of a traditional workshop. Alumni Wilfred Okiche and Domoina Ratsara return as Section Editors, mentoring emerging critics. Partnerships with the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival (4–14 June 2026) and the Durban International Film Festival (23 July–2 August 2026) will give participants real-world reporting experience.  Opening doors internationallyA collaboration between the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), and the DFMI will see one participant receive a CIFF-presented award and an invitation to attend and cover the Cairo International Film Festival. Delegate registration and programme details will be announced in due course. Visit the Durban FilmMart Institute's website at durbanfilmmart.co.za for more information. |