A record 22 fiction feature films and documentaries projects in development from around Africa have been selected for the 8th edition of the Durban FilmMart (DFM) which takes place in Durban, South Africa from July 14 to 17, 2017.
A joint program of the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit, the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (
DIFF), the DFM aims to showcase and increase awareness of African cinema through stimulating film production on the continent by encouraging collaborations amongst African filmmakers.
The projects this year have been selected from across Africa, including Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Benin, DRC, Namibia, Somalia, Mozambique and South Africa.
“We are more than delighted with this year’s submissions and selection of projects,” says Toni Monty, Head of the DFO. “We have a range of countries represented as well as an interesting selection of topics and themes, which we are sure will engage and pique the interest of the visiting experts and peers. With 12 feature films and 10 documentaries, this promises to be a bumper edition and we look forward to welcoming and engaging with the film-makers on these projects in the hope that the DFM will act as a facilitator and catalyst for the further development of these films.”
“Ultimately the proof is when we see the projects come to life and get produced, distributed and screened,” Monty goes on to say. “Many of the projects selected from the DFM go on to be granted further opportunities to develop at other markets and incubators around the world. We have seen them doing well at festivals or picking up good distribution deals for cinema release. In the past we have seen many of these projects come to life and premiere at the Durban International Film Festival – a wonderful testimony to the value of the Durban FilmMart.”
The DFM provides a platform for African filmmakers, industry professionals, broadcasters and potential financiers, to come connect, network and engage in important conversations around projects. Over the years it has become an important networking space for film-makers and a solid springboard for new thinking and collaboration between African and other international film-makers.
The selected fiction and documentary film-makers will attend the DFM and will be meeting one-on-one with possible co-producers and financiers in the Finance Forum. They will also pitch their work to a panel of commissioning editors from local and international funders and financiers, and meet and network with a wide range of industry experts and possible collaborators during the four-day event.
Fiction
An African Tale (Kenya) – produced by Shirleen Wangar and directed by Gilbert Lukalia
Border (Benin) – produced by Idrissou Mora Kpai and directed by Arouna Sacca Mora Kpai
Borderlines (South Africa) – produced Kim Williams and Paul Egan and directed by Meg Rickards
Dabulaphu (Short Cut) (South Africa) – produced Kethiwe Ngcobo and David Max Brown and directed by Norman Maake
Matigari (Congo) – produced by Dilima Luzuko, Balufu Bakupa Kanyinda, Fidelis Duker, Cathy Muigai and directed by Balufu Bakupa Kanyinda
Miles from Nowhere (South Africa) – produced by Bongiwe Selane and directed by Samantha Nel
Rainbows Don’t Last Long (Egypt) – produced by Halina Dyrschka and directed by Mayye Zayed
Richard was Here (South Africa) – produced by Akona Matyila and Jack Chiang and directed by Akona Matyila
The Girl from Wereldend (Namibia) – produced by Dylan Voogt and directed by Jana Brückner
The Lotus (South Africa) – produced by Bonita Sithebe and directed by Philani Sithebe
The Sovereign (South Africa) – produced by Gary King, Cait Pansegrouw and Elias Ribeiro and directed by Wim Steytler
The Woods (South Africa) – produced and directed by Kofi Zwane
Documentaries
As I Want (Zay Mana Aiyza) (Egypt) – produced by Karim El Hakim and directed by Samaher Alqadi
Behind Closed Doors (Morocco) – produced by Cyriac Auriol, Hind Saih, Karoline Henkel and directed by Yakhout Elhabibi
Better Sundays (Kenya) – produced by Kelvin Kimathi and directed by Lydia Matata
Desterrados (Mozambique) – produced by Fabio Ribeiro and directed by Yara Costa
Encore (
working title) (South Africa) – produced by Liesel Priem, Jolynn Minnaar and directed by Jessie Zinn and Jethro Westraad
Lobola, A Bride’s True Price (South Africa) – produced by Sarah Basyouny and directed by Sihle Hlophe
Rajada Dalka (Nation’s Hope) (Somalia) – produced by Andy Jones, Cynthia Kane, and Lyric R Cabraland directed by Hana Mire
Softie (Kenya) – produced by Matrid Nyagah and Linda Ogeda and directed by Soko Sam
Working Womxn (South Africa) – produced by Tiny Mungwe and directed by Shanelle Jewnarain
Y Revolution (South Africa) – produced and directed by Suzanne du Toit
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Immediately following the World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, NEON acquired Border, a troll love story directed by Ali Abbasi and based on a novel by the writer of Let the Right One In, for release in the US.
Border is the second feature from Iranian-born Danish director Abbasi. He co-scripted the film with Isabella Eklöf, in collaboration with novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In).
The film tells the story of a border guard (Eva Melander) who has the ability to smell human emotions and catch smugglers. When she comes across a mysterious man with a smell that confounds her detection, she is forced to confront hugely disturbing insights about herself and humankind.
The Cannes Film Festival yesterday announced the Official Selections of the 71st edition of the festival. The titles include the feature films in Competition, at Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, in Midnight Screenings and in Special Screenings.
The 71st Cannes Film Festival will take place May 8 to 19, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0swRBkl11rI