The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has officially released the project dossier for the 2025 Durban FilmMart (DFM) Pitch and Finance Forum and Talents Durban.

This comprehensive guide highlights the exceptional storytelling talent that will gather in Durban from 18 – 21 July 2025, for the 16th edition of this premier co-production and film finance market.

The official project dossier equips industry professionals with vital information ahead of the event to forge meaningful connections, identify potential collaborations, and discover the projects that will define African cinema’s trajectory in the coming years.

This year’s selection includes 8 animation projects, 11 fiction titles, and 11 documentaries, and showcase remarkable diversity, with animations hailing from Morocco, Cameroon, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the documentary lineup presenting powerful narratives from Morocco, Algeria, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cape Verde, Sudan, Tunisia, and South Africa, and compelling fiction features and series come from South Africa, Libya, Algeria, Canada, Rwanda, Tunisia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Kenya.

The Talents Durban cohort highlights emerging voices from a wide range of countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa, Namibia, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Malawi, Tanzania, Ghana, Togo, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Madagascar, Eswatini, and Kenya. This diversity underscores the continent-wide reach of this prestigious development programme.

Each year, through an open application process and three independent selection panels, the Institute selects approximately 30 animation and live-action projects in development. These projects undergo a rigorous 6 to 8-week packaging and mentorship program in preparation for the Pitch and Finance Forum – a dynamic space for public pitching, one-on-one meetings, and industry engagement. This platform not only celebrates African storytelling excellence but also actively builds pathways to funding, co-production, and global distribution.

“The DFM is committed to facilitating talent development by nurturing African filmmakers through mentorship and funding initiatives. The DFM also promotes co-productions and distribution deals that enable African cinema to remain relevant on the world stage. The Market has proven to be a catalyst for representation and inclusivity in the industry, empowering those who have been marginalized and allowing diverse narratives to emerge,” says M. Mazibuko on behalf of the DFMI Board and Management.

View the project dossier here

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