The leadership of the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced the lineup of projects and participants for the 17th edition of Talents Durban holding during the Durban FilmMart (DFM) in Durban from July 19 to 22, 2024.
As the African satellite programme of the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban holds a significant position within the DFMI’s programming portfolio. Berlinale Talents is a networking platform organised by the Berlin International Film Festival, offering a space for emerging filmmakers to connect, learn, and collaborate.
Talents Durban serves as its African counterpart, providing a similar platform specifically tailored to the continent’s unique filmmaking landscape. DFMI Director, Magdalene Reddy, explains. “The Durban FilmMart Institute is dedicated to the growth of African cinema through strategic collaborations that enhance access to markets and professional networks.
Talents Durban, a core component of this commitment, aligns with Berlinale Talents to facilitate a rigorous developmental platform for emerging filmmakers.
This partnership, now in its 17th iteration, leverages both our shared vision and the bold stories that Africa offers. We are particularly focused on providing filmmakers, animators and film critics with the tools and opportunities to bring their work to both regional audiences and the international stage, thereby ensuring sustained development of the continent’s film industry.
“This edition of Talents Durban is distinguished by its inclusion of participants from 15 African countries, who collectively reflect the continent’s diversity of emerging film professionals.
The selection process was highly competitive, with a record 499 applications resulting in the choice of 26 distinctive projects and four film critics, each bringing a fresh perspective to features, documentaries, shorts, series, animation, and film criticism.
Selected Talents will participate in a series of project-oriented, hands-on skills development programmes. Mounia Aram, Jihane Bougrine, Hawa Essuman, Yanis Gaye, Karabo Lediga, Carol Kioko, Beverly Mitchell, Kethiwe Ngcobo and Laza Razanajatovo, will serve as mentors for the 2024 edition. They are expected to provide invaluable guidance and generously share their expertise with the participants.
