.Less buzz for 2023 Zuma Film Festival ending today
The 2023 edition of the annual Zuma Film Festival organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in collaboration with the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) ends today in Abuja, Nigeria’s sprawling capital city. The festival opened on December 1 and there has been less buzz about this edition of the festival even within the FCT, the host city.
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Themed, Cultural Convergence,  and held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, this edition, the 13th in the film festival series, attracted professionals, emerging talents and delegates.

Durban film mart invites submissions for talents Durban
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced opening of submissions for the 17th edition of Talents Durban, a dynamic talent development programme in partnership with the Berlin International Film Festival.

Scheduled to hold alongside the Durban FilmMart, Africa’s premier film finance and co-production market, from July 19 to 22, 2024, in Durban, South Africa, Talents Durban continues to be a forum for African film professionals, exploring the intricacies of movie-making and providing a continental networking and project development platform.

Talents Durban is open to African screenwriters and directors with fiction, documentary, animation, and hybrid projects in development, across various media formats such as film, television series, web series, and content for mobile platforms. Selected participants, chosen by a panel of industry experts, will engage in mentorship labs, workshops, discussions, and specialised programmes, tailored for specific disciplines including directing and scriptwriting.

“Building upon the legacy of Talents Durban’s impactful journey over the last 16 years, we are excited to announce the 17th edition,” Director of Durban FilmMart Institute, Magdalene Reddy, said, adding: “Talents Durban is more than just a programme; it’s a dynamic force propelling the future of African cinema. Through mentorship, workshops, and the unique hybrid format for 2024, we aim to fortify the foundation for emerging talent, fostering not only artistic excellence but also sustainable connections within the industry. This is a celebration of the rich diversity and potential within African storytelling.” The 17th edition aims to integrate both online and physical formats.

The programme will consist of an eight-week online mentorship followed by a four-day in-person summit, running parallel to the Durban FilmMart. The programme will encompass four hands-on training labs including Storytelling Lab, featuring six feature film scripts, six short film scripts, and four web series concepts in development, guided by five mentors for each category, Animation Lab, which is focused on four animation projects in development, emphasising project development, character visual development, and the business of animation and Doc Lab, which engages six documentary projects in development, offering project development and mentorship.

The fourth hand-on is Talents Press which invites three emerging film critics for mentorship, hands-on training, and coverage of the festival through film reviews, interviews, and social media. To be eligible, applicants must meet specific criteria, including being citizens of an African country, and aged at least 18 by July 1, 2024. The call for projects is open from December 4, 2023 to January 26, 2024. More details on application information can be sourced at  https://www.berlinale-talents.de/bt/durban/ap/info/index]
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