Nineteen documentaries and fiction feature film projects from around Africa have been selected for this year's Durban FilmMart (DFM) which takes place in Durban, South Africa from 17 to 20 June, 2016.

DFM is a joint collaboration between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival. The aim of DFM is to raise the visibility of Africa cinema, to stimulate film production on the continent and facilitate project collaborations amongst African filmmakers. The DFM, as a result 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. And it is an important networking event for film-makers from around the globe, and has become an important springboard for African projects to be realized.

The Durban FilmMart, now in its it 7th edition, has selected 19 projects from across Africa, including Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Tunisia and South Africa.

"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 film-makers 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."

These fiction and documentary film-makers 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.

DFM 2016 Project Selection

DOCUMENTARY

·      Dungeon Keepers - South Africa. Producer: James Walsh, Director: James Walsh

·      For Your Precious Love â€" South Africa. Producer: Steve Buxt, David Heitner, Director: Keith Jones

·      Hatim’s Dream - Uganda. Producer: Nathan Magoola, Director: Matthew Bishanga

·      Lift like a Girl â€" Egypt. Producer: Mayye Zayed, Co-producer: Moritz Helmes, Director: Amrosh Badr

·      Spirits of the Karoo â€" South Africa. Producer: Zinzi Nkenene, Directors: Engelbert Phiri and Zinzi Nkenene

·      Testament â€" Kenya. Producer: Meena Nanji, Directors: Meena Nanji and Zippy Kimundu

·      The Letter â€" Kenya.  Producers: Maia von Lekow and Chris King, Directors: Maia  von Lekow and Chris King

·      Voetsak! Us, Brothers? â€" South Africa. Producer: Trish Urquhart, Co-producer: Sean Moloi, Director: Andy Spitz

·      Where we Belong â€" Ghana/South Africa. Producer: Osei Owusu Banahene. Director: Ben Johnson

·      Wiz of Zim â€" South Africa. Producers: Lesedi Oluko Moche and Carolyn Carew, Ddirector: Samora Sekhukhune

FICTION

·      Abnormal Loads â€" South Africa. Producer: Elias Ribeiro, Cait Panesgrouw. Director: Neil Coppen

·      Disco Afrika â€" Madagascar. Producer: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck, Executive Producers: Herizo Rabary and Randriamantsoa, Director: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck

·      Down and Dirty â€" South Africa. Producers: Damir Radonic and Angie Mills, Director: Angie Mills

·      Headland â€" South Africa. Producer: David Horler, Director: Elan Gamaker

·      Imprisoned â€" South Africa. Producer: Suda Sing, Director: Jayan Moodley

·      Inga, Inge â€" Zimbabwe. Producer: Veronique Doumbe, Director: Tsitsi Dangarembga

·      People You May Know â€" South Africa. Producer: Laurence Hamburger, Director: Zandile Tisani

·      The Mango Tree that Danced with Sea Breeze â€" Kenya. Producer: Lungeleni Zondi, Director: Phillippa Ndsi-Herrmann

·      Un Fils â€" Tunisia. Producer: Habib Attia, Director: Mehdi M. Barsaoui

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.

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.

For more information on the Durban FilmMart and to register as a delegate visit ww.durbanfilmmart.co.za


PREPARED FOR:  The Durban FilmMart by:

Sharlene Versfeld/  Sipho Ngwenya/Ayanda Mabanga

Versfeld & Associates

031-8116528/ 083 326 3235

Sharlene@versfeld.co.za/ info@versfeld.co.za

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and finance market and is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DFM provides filmmakers from across Africa with a valuable opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and to participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on the latest industry trends.  www.durbanfilmmart.co.za

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film industry development arm of the eThekwini Municipality, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry. The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMMEs in the region.  www.durbanfilmoffice.co.za

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with a special focus on Africa. The festival includes development programmes such as Talents Durban and a rich schedule of workshops. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors.  www.cca.ukzn.ac.za