Deadline: 31-Oct-2025
The Durban FilmMart Pitch and Finance Forum is open to both animation and live action projects in development, from filmmakers across Africa.
DFMI will cover economy round-trip flights within Africa and accommodation for one project representative only. Any changes in travel dates, destinations, or individuals travelling will be at the applicant’s own expense. Representatives must ensure that all travel documents, including visas and vaccination certificates, are valid for the travel period. DFMI will not cover visa application costs, and any withdrawal after a flight booking will require reimbursement of the airfare by the representative.
Eligible projects include those in which the producer, director, or writer is an African citizen, with proof of citizenship required through a certified copy of a valid African passport or identification document. Africans living in the Diaspora who retain their African citizenship are also eligible to apply. Projects must have both a producer and director attached. Additionally, non-African industry professionals—such as producers, directors, and writers—seeking African partners may apply to participate as delegates.
Admission to the Durban FilmMart as a delegate requires registration and payment of a registration fee, with the online registration process opening in May each year. Applications will first undergo a technical evaluation to assess eligibility, followed by a project evaluation conducted by a panel of industry professionals who will review the submitted materials. Shortlisted applicants will then be contacted to confirm their availability, and the final list of officially selected participants will be publicly announced thereafter.
Applicants may submit more than one project for consideration, but only one project can be selected per applicant for each programme cycle. Projects previously selected as official projects cannot be resubmitted in future cycles. Successful applicants must provide documentation proving ownership of all intellectual property rights associated with the film, and any team changes must be communicated to DFMI.
Each selected project must have a single representative available throughout the entire programme, which includes the Mentorship (online), Masterclass Series (February–March 2026), one-on-one mentorship sessions (March–July 2026), and the in-person event scheduled for 22–27 July 2026 as part of the annual Durban FilmMart.
The Durban FilmMart Institute reserves the right to amend programme guidelines with public notice. Applicants are strictly prohibited from contacting evaluation panel members regarding the selection process; all queries must be directed to DFMI staff. Projects supported by DFMI must acknowledge this support with appropriate credit and logo placement on all promotional materials. Upon project completion, credits must state that the project was pitched at the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum.
The deadline for applications is 31 October 2025.
For more information, visit Durban FilmMart Institute.