The annual Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) and the Durtban FilmMart (DFM) have announced the dates for next year’s editions, which take place almost a month earlier than the usual July dates. The
DIFF will now take place from June 16 to 26, 2016 while the DFM will take place from 17 to 20 June, 2016. The 9th Talents Durban the intensive programme of seminars, handson training, workshops and
industry networking activities in partnership with Berlinale Talents will take place from June 17-21, 2016.

DFM is a joint project of the eThekwini Municipality’s industry arm, the Durban Film Office and the DIFF, and 2016 marks its 7th edition. Toni Monty the Head of Durban Film Office says, “This may work well in
favour of the DFM and DIFF because it is just before the July summer holidays in Europe which is traditionally used as a recess period for film-makers, and that often impacts on their availability in July.”

DIFF is hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts and 2016 will mark its 37th edition. “Although it will require some concerted communication efforts, we are positive about the move to June,” says Kishore Gobardan Director of Professional Services in the College of Humanities at UKZN
in which the CCA is housed. â€œThe festival will now open on the Youth Day, which may free up people to take advantage of a possible long weekend, and creates thematic opportunities for the festival to look at the role of youth within the industry.”

With screenings of cuttingedge cinema from around the world, containing as always a special focus on both South African and African films, the festival exhibits films in a range of diverse venues in and around
the city of Durban. DIFF is the premiere platform for the launch of African films and a key gateway to the African film industry. The festival also includes an annual local and international awards component.

Only films completed in 2014, 2015 and 2016 will be considered, and there is no charge for entry. Submissions will be accepted via an Online Screener. All submissions must be entered via the DIFF Visitor Page online at vp.eventival.eu/cca/diff2016. In order to submit a film, an account needs to be
created if this has not already been done in previous years. The deadline for all entries (short films, documentaries and feature fiction films), including delivery of screeners, is 29 February 2016.

This year’s festival will feature a focus on the important issue of HIV and Aids within film. The DIFF invites filmmakers with films on this subject to submit for consideration in this category.

The Durban FilmMart has already made a call for submissions of film projects with the due date being
December 14, 2015.

For further information about the DIFF go to www.durbanfilmfestival.co.za and for the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za.