The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced the official selection of 31 diverse film projects from 15 African countries for its Pitch and Finance Forum at the 2025 Durban FilmMart (DFM).
Under the theme “Bridges Not Borders: Stories that Unite,” the 16th edition of Africa’s leading co-production and film finance market will take place in Durban from July 18 to 21.
This year’s selection showcases a compelling range of narratives, including fiction features and series, animated projects, and documentaries. Filmmakers behind these projects will have the invaluable opportunity to connect with a global network of broadcasters, financiers, streamers, sales agents, festival programmers, and producers. This crucial interaction aims to propel these developing stories towards production and ultimately onto screens worldwide.
Magdalene Reddy, Director of the DFMI, expressed her enthusiasm for the selected projects. “This year’s selection continues our proud tradition of championing authentic African narratives and voices from across the continent,” she stated. “The projects selected for DFM 2025 demonstrate exceptional storytelling that bridges cultures while remaining deeply rooted in their unique contexts.”
Reddy further highlighted the success of DFM alumni, whose projects have garnered recognition at major international festivals and secured global distribution. She expressed confidence that the 2025 cohort would follow a similar path of impact, embodying the DFM’s theme by connecting different regions of Africa and reaching diaspora and Global South communities.
The selected fiction features explore a range of themes, from a South African tale of silence and secrets in “‘n Doop om Stilte (Baptism of Silence)” to the Libyan/Algerian/Canadian thriller “Al Assas (The Guardian)” and the Rwandan story of renewal in “Bupya (Renewed).” South Africa also features with “Corruption Is An English Word” and the evocative “Nomvula (She Who Brings the Rain).” Other selected fiction features hail from Tunisia (“Dowar Alqamar (The Sunflowers of the Moon)”), Senegal (“Le Sanglier (The Boar)”), Tanzania (“Space Maasai”), and Kenya (“STERO”).
The fiction series selection includes South Africa’s “High Flyers,” “The Second Coming,” and “VigilAunties,” promising compelling serialized narratives.
The animation category boasts imaginative projects such as Morocco’s “Aisha Qandicha,” Cameroon’s “Au nom du Roi Njoya (In The Name of King Njoya),” and the South African/Nigerian co-production “Crocodile Dance.” Egypt’s “Kamaroza,” the Democratic Republic of Congo’s “Kintuadi: Simon Kimbangu,” and South Africa’s “Tribe” also feature in the animated fiction features. Animated series include Cameroon/France’s “Mboudgui” and South Africa’s “Nunu Rhu/The Girl With Wings.”
The documentary selection tackles diverse and timely subjects. Features include Morocco’s “Akal,” Algeria’s “Climbing the Mountains,” Zimbabwe’s “Golden,” the Democratic Republic of Congo’s “Kivu,” Cape Verde’s “Plastic Atlantis,” Sudan’s “Samaa Gafa (Dry Sky),” Tunisia’s “The Salt of the South,” and South Africa’s “Un/Settled” and “Vuka.” The documentary series category includes South Africa’s “Planet Carnival” and Tunisia’s “Retour à Thiaroye (Return To Thiaroye).”
Beyond the Pitch and Finance Forum, DFM 2025 will offer an enriching Industry Programme with masterclasses, panel discussions, and roundtables. Early bird registration for the event is now open.
