The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has deepened its commitment to African cinema by partnering with FESPACO, the prestigious Pan-African Film & TV Festival of Ouagadougou. During the festival’s 29th edition, DFMI played a key role in bringing together Africa’s top film labs and celebrating its alumni, who secured major awards.
A total of 18 representatives from 14 film labs convened at FESPACO to discuss strategies for supporting filmmakers across the continent. This initiative provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and the introduction of DFMI’s Future Mentors Programme—a resource aimed at strengthening mentorship in the African film industry.
Facilitated by industry experts Tiny Mungwe and Lauren Rosenberg, the programme explored mentorship methodologies and encouraged labs to adapt the Future Mentors Guide to their specific needs. Discussions focused on four key areas: Context and Capacity, Sustainability, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Audience Development and Distribution.
Beyond workshops and discussions, DFMI alumni made a strong impact at FESPACO. Eleven alumni films were screened, while two projects competed in the Yennenga Post-Production Forum. Several alumni emerged victorious at the festival’s Closing Ceremony, which was attended by Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
DFMI Alumni Award Winners at FESPACO 2025:
Silver Stallion of Yennenga for Best Feature Documentary:
Tongo Saa – Rising Up At Night (DFM 2020) – Nelson Makengo (Director), Dada Kahindo & Rosa Spaliviero (Producers)
President Thomas Sankara Award for Pan-Africanism (First Prize):
Our Land, Our Freedom (DFM 2020) – Meena Nanji & Zippy Kimundu (Directors/Producers), Eliane Ferreira (Producer)
President Thomas Sankara Award for Pan-Africanism (Second Prize):
Mother City (DFM 2018) – Miki Redelinghuys & Pearlie Joubert (Directors), Khetiwe Ngcobo (Producer)
FESPACO PRO Yennenga Post-Production Award:
Nzonzing (DFM 2022) – Moimi Wezam (Director), Nelson Makengo, Angèle Diabang & Michael A. Dobbin (Producers)
The partnership between DFMI and FESPACO highlights the crucial role of African film labs in shaping the industry’s future. With support from DW Akademie and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), DFMI remains dedicated to empowering filmmakers and fostering a thriving African cinema landscape.
