FAQs

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. It is the oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa and presents over 250 screenings celebrating the best in South African, African and international cinema. Most of the screenings are either African or South African premieres. The festival also offers filmmaker workshops, industry seminars, discussion forums, and outreach activities that include screenings in township areas where cinemas are non-existent, and much more.  The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a four-day film finance and co-production market, where national and international film producers, buyers, sales agents, broadcasters and film financiers meet one-on-one with potential co-producers from around Africa, to discuss an array of pre-selected film projects. The programme will feature high-profile speakers, lead experts and industry professionals. Networking events, media visits and sightseeing events are also held in conjunction with the four-day workshop and seminar programme.

You can book your tickets by contacting the Durban International Film Festival by calling, +2731 260 2506 or kindly send an email to: diff@ukzn.ac.za

A four day closed forum where selected African filmmakers engage in a two-day pitching and packaging training programme prior to the one-on-one meetings with investors where filmmakers pitch their projects.

Talents Durban is the Durban FilmMart’s annual 5-day training and development programme, that brings together Africa’s rising film professionals.

Talents Durban aims to coordinate a streamlined programme for emerging screenwriters, directors, film critics, producers and other film-related individuals that focus on project development and to host mentorship and hands-on training for emerging film critics/journalists.

The DFM Content Shop is a curated digital catalogue of film projects that aims to create opportunities, engender inclusivity, and champion access to markets for African filmmakers.

Selected projects will be presented exclusively to international programmers, sales companies, broadcasters, distributors, exhibitors, and talent agents.

The Durban FilmMart begins at 09h00 every morning and ends at 17h30 in the evening, followed by the DFM networking functions. Please see programme for more specific times.

DFM participants with a DFM registration tag can visit the DIFF management office, which be allocated in the DFM venue.

The following are eligible to submit:

• Projects in which either the producer, director or writer is an African citizen. Proof of African citizenship or birth must be provided through a certified copy of a valid African passport/ birth certificate;
• Africans living in the Diaspora, but who still have African citizenship or have proof of birth in Africa;
• Projects with a producer and director attached.

NB: Non-African industry professionals – producers, directors and writers – with projects looking for African partners can participate in the market as delegates. Admission to the  DFM is by registration and payment of a registration fee. 

Submission Deadline: 20 FEBRUARY 2022

No late or incomplete submissions will be considered.

• Click here for DFM Pitch and Finance Forum Application Information >>
• Click here for DFM Content Shop Application Information >>
• Click here for Talents Durban Application Information >>
• Click here for Jumpstart Application Information >>
• Click here for DFMI Alumni Business Lab Application Information >>
• Click here for DFM Access Application Information >>

Kindly refer to the Durban FilmMart Fact Sheet here.

Fiction and creative documentary projects, in the following formats can apply:

• Feature length
• Episodic

Yes, projects without finance are eligible. However, the project will be advantaged if it can demonstrate funds already committed to the project.

No, you may only submit if you have a producer and director attached, if you are both the producer and director of the project please complete both producer and director sections on the form.

No, you may only submit if you have a producer and director attached, if you are both the producer and director of the project please complete both producer and director sections on the form.

You are welcome participate in the market as delegates, there are many networking opportunities at DFM where you will be able to meet producers. Admission to the DFM is by registration and payment of a registration fee.

We also have partner labs, JUMPSTART and TALENTS DURBAN which offer mentorship and upskilling for writers. 

Yes, you can. However, please note that should both projects be short listed, only one (1) project will be considered for the Finance Forum.

Yes, but remember to update your package.

Selected Projects are announced in May every year. Please note that the selection of projects for DFM is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

If your application is selected, the Durban FilmMart requires the following:

• A single representative must be present during the entire Durban FilmMart (travel and accommodation for one person will be provided).
• Once the project is completed, the credits must mention that the project was presented at the Durban FilmMart.

You are welcome participate in the market as delegates, admission to the DFM is by registration and payment of a registration fee. Please note that the selection of projects for DFM is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

DFM Delegate registration opens in April every year.

No, admittance to the Finance Forum is by invitation to selected projects only but you can register to attend the industry programmes.

Yes. You can register as a delegate to attend the industry programmes with the payment of a registration fee. Registration opens from April.

You will:

• Register at the DFM registration desk,
• Collect your delegate name tag,
• Collect a DFM delegate bag with your information pack (DFM programme, schedules of the networking functions, DFM project dossier, industry manual etc )
• Collect your meeting schedules for one-on-one meetings with pitching and packaging experts and potential investors detailing times and venues.

You have an opportunity to pitch your project to international financiers, which take place during a closed pitching forum in the form of one-to-one meetings:

• Each financier in your schedule will meet with you for a period of 30 minutes.

You will also have the opportunity to consult with international experts. Your consultancy meetings will be:

• Allocated to one venue.
• Scheduled for 30 minutes per meeting.

You are welcome to make a presentation on your laptop. The duration of your presentation must be kept within the allocated time of all meetings, which are 30 minutes. Note that that all projects will also pitch during the Pitch Forum.