The Durban FilmMart Institute is thrilled to announce the online programme streams that will form part of this year’s Durban FilmMart.
Celebrating its 13th edition, Durban FilmMart takes place from 22 – 31 July 2022 under the theme of Revolution//Evolution – Changing The Narrative. This year’s DFM will be a hybrid event featuring a physical industry programme from 22 – 24 July for those attending in person, as well as a virtual programme that takes place from 22-31 July.
The 2022 DFM online event comprises a wide-ranging programme that looks at some of the newest trends and issues in the African film industry and beyond. Along with previously established strands, this year, the DFMI is pleased to introduce a new addition to the programme – New Voices – which engages with industry game changers who are working independently to create and produce projects outside of mainstream channels.
The FilmMart’s keynote feature, DFM Conversations, is a one-on-one session with leading professionals from various fields within the film industry in the areas of production, development, animation, and representation. In these hour-long sessions, experts will traverse different aspects of their work, sharing what drives them, and unpacking the opportunities and challenges they have experienced along their journeys. Featured speakers include African production stalwarts Mo Abudu (EbonyLIFE),) and Tendeka Matatu (Netflix).
Durban Does Docs, the DFM’s documentary-focused stream of programming will explore the varied art of documentary story-telling. Discussions will include a focus on representation and ethical filmmaking with filmmaker Elijah Ndoumbé, and Organization Framing Us, navigating the world of co-producing with Berlinale special mention, No U-Turn filmmaker Ike Nnaebue, and filmmaker Faissol Gnonlonfin – who are using new mediums in story-telling. The programme will also feature Electric South’s Ingrid Kopp on the long form docuseries with director and producer Sara Blecher of the Netflix break-out hit Senzo.
Now in its second year, Animation @ DFM is a series of discussions looking at animation on the African continent. This series engages with creators, institutions, and collectives, while investigating the initiatives of filmmakers operating outside of mainstream studios. It will also look at institutions working to develop the production of animation projects across the continent and the diaspora. With the inclusion of animation projects in the official DFM Pitch and Finance forum, this year’s programme will dive deeper into the animation space, exploring subjects such as financing, distribution, and the blending world of gaming and animation. Featured speakers include Ariane Suveg from Cartoon Network, Tendayi Nyeke who produced the Disney Plus Original Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Nick Wilson from African Animation Network, and Jérome Soffo Simo from the Yaoundé African Cinema Animation.
Content Shop New Pathways will continue to highlight some of the innovative trends and developments in the global film industry, such as the importance of developing grass root audiences, emerging platforms for curation and financing, archiving of historical African cinema, the use of data and technology in the industry, and how technology is playing a key role in shaping the future of film. Featured participants include trend and data expert Ojoma Ochai from CcHUB Creative Economy, local filmmaker Weaam Williams, who recently incorporated digital financing models in her production Two Hues, film stalwarts and historians Aboubakar Sanogo and June Giovanni.
In conjunction with the Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban Talks is a series of conversations with some of the continent’s most successful writers, directors, and film critics. These conversations will not only highlight some of the most successful creatives on the continent but will also delve into the topics of creating work that reflects the stories from the continent while exploring writing for cultures across the continent. Discussions will feature director Amil Shivji of Zanzibar festival hit Tug of War, Mamadou Dia of Sengalese Nafi’s Daughter, and writer director Jenna Cato Bass, who has followed her success with Flatland with a new horror film entitled Good Madam. In addition, the programme will probe the new spaces for film criticism, looking at the rise of podcasting and video essays amid a changing world where technology is increasingly entwining with film criticism. The discussion will feature Nikita Neo Mokgware and Yazz The Student from This Is Africa and Afriquan Film podcasts respectively.
New Voices will focus on filmmakers, collectives and platforms that operate in the margins outside of the mainstream industries. This series of discussions will look at the areas of audience and industry development, indigenous filmmaking, and new models for distribution and programming. Featured speakers will include Lyse Ishimwe Nsengiyumva of diaspora screening programme, Recognition BXL, Abhishek Nilamber of curation network, United Screens, Alan d’Escragnolle of digital distribution platform Film Hub, Yanis Gaye of Gorée Island Cinéma.
Commenting on the new feature, Magdalene Reddy, General Manager of the DFMI, says, “We are initiating an examination of how producers and directors find innovative ways, outside of the norm, of telling African stories, and of bringing those stories to market. Disruption that creates opportunities for new forms of filmmaking, distribution and audience development is fundamentally helping to evolve the film landscape in Africa, not just film per se, but the whole wide world of audio-visual operations and its many exciting dimensions.”
Programme details for the in-person component of DFM will be released in due course, including the SA in Focus sessions, presentations from sponsor and partner organizations, as well as exhibition and networking opportunities.
Registrations are open for both online and physical participation at Durban FilmMart. Visit https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/dfm-event-2022/ to review the participation options, and to explore the full programme of activities and opportunities on offer.
The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the eThekwini Municipality. The DFM 2022 event is kindly supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Wesgro.
