Media Release
Durban FilmMart 2021 Back on Track from August 13-22
After being disrupted by the civil unrest that affected parts of South Africa, Africa’s premier
film industry event, the Durban FilmMart, is back on track to host its virtual event this August.
The 12th edition of the Durban FilmMart which was initially meant to take place between 16 -
25 July will now take place from August 13-22.
“We are glad that we were able to overcome the challenges that the riots in parts of
KwaZulu-Natal presented us to get the Durban FilmMart back on track so that we can once
again showcase the best of African filmmaking,” says Magdalene Reddy, acting General
Manager of the Durban FilmMart Institute.
“Despite the disruption we faced, our programme for the virtual event remains largely
unchanged and we look forward to providing African filmmakers the platform to network
with an international market,” Reddy said.
Under the theme, 'Disrupt! The shape of stories to come', the Durban FilmMart will highlight
the best the continent has to offer while interrogating the challenges and opportunities the
film industry faces.
This year the DFM has a programme comprising 100 speakers over 40 sessions. Highlighted
streams in the Industry programme include:
DFM Conversations – In-depth conversations with prominent film industry
professionals
Durban Does Docs – Unpacking the world of documentary filmmaking
Talents Filmmaker Talks – Interrogating stories, messaging and filmmaking processes
Engage – Highlighting Lusophone African voices in the traveling think-tank programme
Animation @ DFM – Explore animation as a dynamic driving force within the
continent’s creative industries
Content Shop: New Pathways – How digital opportunities in the areas of training,
sales, distribution and festival strategy facilitate inclusivity and access
The Pitch and Finance Forum offers financiers, funders, investors and programmers an
opportunity to fully explore African projects in development. The 2021 programme will
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present 30 projects as the official DFM selection and 45 projects in the Story Junction
selection. Story Junction is the presentation of projects from partner programmes – Talents
Durban, Hot Docs Blue Ice Docs Fund Fellows and a spotlight on selected Lusophone African
projects.
Delegate registration is now open on the following link:
http://www.durbanfilmmart.co.za/Delegate-Registration.aspx
The Durban FilmMart 2021 is produced by the Durban FilmMart Institute with principal funding from
the Durban Film Office and Ethekwini Municipality.
The DFM 2021 virtual event is supported by National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film
Commission, Film and Publications Board, International Emerging Film Talent Association, Institut
Francais – South Africa, Wesgro, Canadian High Commission, Canex Creative Africa Nexus, CC&A
Insurance, Wits School of Arts Film and Television, Sunshine Cinema and Multichoice Talents Factor,
Embassy of Portugal with the following programme partners – Berlinale Talent, Produire au Sud,
AfriDocs and Avek, Cape Town International Animation Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival,
Carthage Film Festival Logo (JCC), Digital Lab Africa, Documentary Filmmakers Association,
Documentary Association of Europe, DOK.fest München, DOK Leipzig, Dolby, Durban International Film
Festival, FidaDoc, FESPACO, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund, Inco Production, Guangzhou International
Documentary Film Festival, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Independent
Producers Organisation, Miradas Doc, Namibia Film Commission, Netflix, Organisation Internationale
de la Francophonie, Rotterdam Cinemart, South African Guild of Actors, Sørfond - Norwegian South
Film Fund, SWIFT, Trace Studios, , Writers Guild of South Africa, Yaoundé Lab
DFM media partners include Awotele, Callsheet Africa, and Variety.
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About the Durban FilmMart Institute
Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African Film industries in a world where
African film Industry professionals and products are globally competitive and celebrated. The
mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes
and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industries so
that African film industry professionals and products are competitive and celebrated globally.
For more information on the Durban FilmMart Institute, visit:
