Durban FilmMart partners with Talents Durban

Filmmakers in discussion during DFM 2017

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) has announced a new partnership with Talents Durban, as applications open for the 2020 edition.

Scheduled to take place from 16 to 20 July this year, Talents Durban is a five-day talent development programme, which has been presented in Durban, South Africa for the past 12 years in co-operation with Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival.

Every year, 20 emerging African filmmakers and developing film critics are selected to participate in the Talents Durban programme. The programme comprises workshops and seminars by industry experts, and presents participants with valuable opportunities to connect with a global network of film industry professionals, and benchmark their work against African and global trends.

“Through discussion with the Berlinale Talents and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), in which Talents was previously housed, we felt that as an industry facing programme, it was a logical fit for Talents Durban to be incorporated into the Durban FilmMart,” said Toni Monty, head of the DFM.

Christine Tröstrum, project manager of the Berlinale Talents commented, “Talents began in Durban ahead of the creation of the DFM 13 years ago. The Talents programme and the DFM have both now evolved into solid vital industry initiatives on the African continent. With our shared aim to create again more synergies in project development and promotion, we are sure that the intensified collaboration will provide some excellent opportunities for the participants.”

The DFM also announced the appointment of Menzi Mhlongo as the manager of the programme for the 13th edition this year. “Menzi Mhlongo has been the project manager of Talents since 2017, and brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the table, providing programme stability and excellent curatorial experience,” said Monty.

“The framework for the Talents Durban programme remains the same,” said Menzi Mhlongo. “This is a just an operational shift, and we will continue to support emerging talents from the continent – with a special attention to promoting a community of filmmakers to inspire growth and expansion of African cinema. I am very excited about working more closely with the industry through the platforms that the DFM provides.” The Talents Durban programme comprises a Storytelling Lab for three features, three shorts and three TV/Web series currently in development; a Doc Lab, in which three Talents Durban with documentary projects are given expert mentorship and can pitch their projects at the Durban FilmMart’s African Pitching Forum; the Animation Lab, which is open to screenwriters and animation directors with animation projects; and Talent Press, which offers mentorship for three emerging African film critics and journalists

The Talents will also be able to participate and interact within the formal DFM programme – scheduled to take place between 17 and 20 July – with 1000 delegates expected to be in attendance this year.

Applications for Talents Durban are now open online. Talents Durban will cover participants’ accommodation, airfare, and market accreditation. Deadline for applications is 24 April 2020. Selected projects will be announced mid-May 2020.

Talents Durban is one of seven Talents International initiatives around the world formed by Berlinale Talents. It is an initiative of the Durban FilmMart in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, with support from the Durban Film Office, the Gauteng Film Commission, the International Emerging Film Talent Association and the Namibia Film Commission.