A total of sixteen fiction feature film and documentary projects from Africa have been selected to pitch at this year’s Durban FilmMart (DFM), which takes place from 20 to 23 July 2018 during the 39th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) which runs from 19 to 29 July.
A joint programme of the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit, the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the DIFF; the Durban FilmMart aims to showcase and increase awareness of African cinema through stimulating film production on the continent by encouraging collaborations amongst African filmmakers.
“We are thrilled to announce the 2018 DFM Official Project selection,” says Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office. “These 16 projects were carefully picked from over 130 applications and will join the DFM team in Durban to partake in a two-day preparatory workshop, followed by two days of public pitching, roundtables, and individual meetings, where they will face industry professionals (broadcasters, funders, distribution and production company representatives) to negotiate support for their projects.”
The eight documentaries and eight feature fictions this year have been selected from Egypt, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Libya, Niger and South Africa representing a dynamic range of work-in-progress and collaborations between the various countries and nationalities.
“This year’s selection profiles an eclectic mix of stories from across Africa, bringing some new talents to the Durban FilmMart that we are excited to present to attending industry professionals,” says Monty. “We would like to congratulate all the selected projects on their success and thank all directors and producers who took the time to apply with their projects.”
Durban FilmMart 2018 Official Project Selection 
Documentaries
At Dawn, (Nigeria) – Producer / Director: Adeyemi Michael
Cheese Girl, (South Africa) –  Producer: Batana Vundla, Marion Isaacs, Director: Milisuthando Bongela
Fitrah: To Be as God Created You, (South Africa) – Producer: Kelly Scott, Director: Richard Finn Gregory
How to Steal a Country (And win it back.), (South Africa) – Producer: Zivia Desai, Rehad Desai, Director: Mark Kaplan, Rehad Desai
Master’s Plan, The, (Cape Verde) –  Producer: Hanne Phlypo, Director: Yuri Ceuninck
Mother City, (South Africa) – Producer: Pearlie Joubert, Miki Redelinguys, Director: Pearlie Joubert, Miki Redelinguys
Searching for Kikhia, (Libya) – Producer: Desert Power / Christina Carvalho, Director: Jihan Kikhia
Zinder, The Seeds of Violence, (Niger) – Producer: Clara Vuillermoz, Ousmane Samassekou, Director: Aicha Macky
Over and above the finance forum for these projects the DFM offers a robust programme of masterclasses, seminars, workshops, labs and networking opportunities for filmmakers to share knowledge and benchmark themselves and their work within a global and continental context.
Early bird discount for registration is open until 4 June 2018 and includes four day’s access to the DFM Industry Programme, access to DFM producers lounge and DFM networking events, 10 tickets to Durban International Film Festival screenings and company information published in the industry manual. Normal registration closes on 13 July 2018.