Durban FilmMart Institute Announces DFM 2024 Official Projects 

The Durban FilmMart Institute introduces the selected projects for the Pitch and Finance Forum of the 2024 Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s leading co-production and finance market. Scheduled for 19 – 22 July 2024, the 15th edition of DFM, under the banner “African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability,” will host a dynamic four-day event in Durban, South Africa.

This year, 30 compelling projects in development will participate in the Pitch and Finance Forum, a pivotal platform where filmmakers convene to network with global broadcasters, financiers, streamers, sales agents, festival programmers, and producers. This interaction is crucial for acquiring the necessary support to transition projects from development to production, ultimately bringing diverse African narratives to both regional and international audiences.

Magdalene Reddy, Director of the DFMI, commented on the selection of projects: “This year’s diverse array of narratives showcases the creativity, adaptability, and inquisitiveness of filmmakers throughout the continent. Our filmmakers are tackling complex subjects and presenting fresh perspectives to worldwide audiences. The chosen projects weave through the intricacies of identity, tradition, and modernity, among other themes. They not only explore historical legacies and their lasting effects but also highlight the vibrant interaction between cultural preservation and innovation. These ideas are vital for deepening our understanding of the social, environmental, and ethical contexts that influence contemporary African societies and their filmic representations.”

Official Project Selections 

FICTION FEATURES

Acts of Man (South Africa) – Producer: Sean Drummond and Director: Sheetal Magan

Benimana (Ivory Coast) – Producer: Samantha Biffot and Director: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo

Dear Tarkovsky (Tunisia) – Producer: Asma Chiboub and Director: Firas Khoury

Garde Baissée (Guard Down) (Egypt, France, Tunisia) – Producers: Imed Marzouk and Mark Lotfy and Director: Sami Tlili

Jua Kali (Kenya) – Producer: Joash Omondi 

Londoner (Nigeria) – Producer: Pamela Drameh and Director: Babatunde Apalowo

Mimouna (Algeria) – Producer: Jeremie Palanque and Director: Amel Blidi

Numalali (My Voice, My Void) (Guatemala) – Producer: Kurt Orderson and Director: Kimeshree Munsamy

Pour Toi Je Reviendrai (I’m Coming For You) (Cameroon) – Producer: Alice Abah and Director: Cyrielle Raingou

Solar (South Africa) – Producer and Director: Jason Jacobs 

The Moon Can’t Run (South Africa) – Producer: Shveta Naidoo and Director: Naishe Nyamubaya

The Pathfinder (South Africa) – Producer and Director: Rafieka Davis 

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

A Girl and a Gun (South Africa) – Producer: Antoinette Engel and Director: Arya Lalloo

Africa AI (South Africa) – Producer: Amílcar Patel and Directors: Amílcar Patel and Chris Kets 

Children of Honey (Tanzania, United Kingdom) – Producer: Natalie Humphreys and Director: Jigar Ganatra

In Pursuit of Ghosts (South Africa) – Producer: Jacintha de Nobrega and Director: Jethro Clifton Westraad

Kam Leila Kam Youm? (How Many Nights How Many Days?) (Egypt) – Producer: Kesmat Elsayed and Director: Alaa Dajani

My Father Killed Bourguiba (Tunisia) – Producer: Sarra Ben Hassan and Director: Fatma Riahi

The One Who Sings (South Africa) – Producers: Chelsea Art and Cameron Lawry and Director: Chelsea Art 

Unsung (South Africa) – Producer: Masechaba Khumalo and Director: Amanda Lane

We Had The Moon (Mauritius) – Producer and Director: Pamela Eduoard

Zerri3a Morra (Algeria, France) – Producer: Antoine Goldet and Director: Camelia Gadhgadhi 

ANIMATION 

Jay Fly (South Africa) – Producer: Nosipho Maketo van den Bragt and Director: Tiaan Franken

Monster Nanny (South Africa, Zimbabwe) – Producer: Kaya Kuhn and Director: Tafadzwa Hove

Oarona (South Africa) – Producers: AJ Pitre and Thandiwe Mlauli and Director: Thandiwe Mlauli

R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Motion) (Egypt) – Producer: Ahmad Abdelhameed and Director: Mahmoud Hemeda

The Legend of Hyena Man (Tanzania) – Producer: Mathew Valerian and Directors: Elshadye Berhanu and Joshua Faber

The Legends of Bulan (Nigeria) – Producer: Ferdinand Adimefe and Director: Azubuike Joseph Duru

Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes (Kenya) – Producer: Sarah Mallia and Director: Chief Nyamweya

Unseen (South Africa) Producer – Annemarie du Plessis 

Beyond the Pitch and Finance Forum, DFM 2024 offers an enriching Industry Programme featuring masterclasses, panel discussions, and roundtables with some of Africa’s foremost filmmaking professionals.

DFM 2024 seeks to critically engage with the film industry, focusing on themes of social responsibility, intellectual property protection, artist rights, workplace equality, and the impact of environmental changes on production, marking a pivotal year for African cinema as it embraces new narratives and transformative potentials.

Early Bird registration for participation is now open until 31 May. 

 For more information and to register, please visit our website: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/  

The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the eThekwini Municipality.

For further inquiries, contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com  

ENDS

About the Durban FilmMart Institute:

Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where film professionals and content are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry.