Durban Film Mart Focuses on Documentary Films

By Ogova Ondego
Published February 20, 2011

A South African film market is inviting local and international commissioning editors to engage with pitches by selected documentary projects in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Held in the framework of the 32nd annual Durban International Film Festival (DIFF, July 21-31, 2011), Durban FilmMart (DFM, July 22-25, 2011) is collaborating with the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) on this project.

“Strong interest has already been expressed in the potential for DFM to unearth and profile a presentation of viable projects from around the continent of Africa,” a DIFF press release says.

With the aim of the DFM being to stimulate film production in Africa, says the press release, the initiative will facilitate meetings with film financiers and co-producers for selected projects.

“The broader Durban FilmMart programme, for selected projects as well as registered delegates, encompasses a four-day programme of master classes, seminars, industry networking activities.”

Now in its second year, DFM is a partnership project between the Durban Film Office and DIFF with principal support by the City of Durban.

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film-industry development arm of the City of Durban, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry. The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMME’s in the region. The organization is also actively seeking and creating opportunities for setting the benchmark as the leading authority in the field in South Africa