Call for Projects for DFM 2023

 

By Fred Felton | 27 Jan. 2023

The Durban FilmMart (DFMI) has opened the call for a variety of projects in development for the 14^th annual Durban FilmMart.

Durban FilmMart now accepting projects from filmmakers. | Photo: DFM

The Durban FilmMart is a pan-African finance and co-production market which aims to create partnerships and help with the development and production of African cinema. UNESCO’s 2021 Film Trends in Africa Report recently named DFM as ‘’the continent’s best film market’. The Durban FilmMart will return as an in person event in Durban, South Africa in July 2023.

The following DFM programmes are still open for application:

Pitch and Finance Forum – Deadline 10 February

This is for fiction, documentary and series film projects with Africans in the major creative roles (writers, directors, and producers) seeking co-producers, financiers, sales agents, and funders are invited to submit their projects that are in development.

A director and producer must be attached to the project. The DFMI independent adjudication committees will select 10 documentaries and 10 fiction film projects from the submissions. These projects will undergo a 6-8 week packaging and mentorship programme prior to the DFM, followed by a pitching session to a panel of global decision makers at the DFM event with one-on-one meetings afterwards.

For more information and to submit a project visit:

https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/pitch-and-finance-forum-application/

Talents Durban - Deadline 17 March

The DFMI in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, invites participants to apply for the 16^th edition of Talents Durban. Talents Durban is open to African screenwriters and directors with fiction, animation, documentary and hybrid projects in development – this includes all media formats such as film, television series, web series and content for mobile platforms. Those selected by a panel of industry experts will participate in mentorship labs, workshops, discussions, and specialised programmes for specific disciplines including scriptwriting and directing.

The Talents Press section invites emerging film critics and journalists from digital and traditional media to apply for mentorship and hands-on training. Prospective Talents must have a portfolio of their previous work and a current project which is in progress.

For more information and to apply visit:

https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/talents-durban-application/

Jumpstart – Deadline 31 March

Jumpstart is an incubator programme for scriptwriting presented by the Durban FilmMart Institute in partnership with Produire au Sud, Nantes, CNC and Institute Francais, South Africa. The programme will focus on project packaging for the international market; filmmakers are introduced to key techniques and tools for scriptwriting and storytelling processes.

For more information and to apply visit:

https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/jumpstart-appliction/

‘’We are committed to providing filmmakers with a platform which gives access and creates opportunity for growth,’’ said Magdalene Reddy, General Manager for the Durban FilmMart Institute.

The Durban FilmMart 2023 is presented by the Durban FilmMart Institute with principal funding from eThekwini Municipality and the Durban Film Office.