Durban FilmMart Institute serves as a film business hub with focus on promoting, supporting and facilitating investment in African cinema through specialised programmes.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced thirty-six African film projects for the 17th Durban FilmMart, Africa’s largest film finance and co-production market, set to take place from 9th to 12th October, 2026 in Durban, South Africa.
The market will unveil diverse projects, including 10 fiction features, 12 documentary, 8 animation and 6 fiction series projects in development at the Pitch and Finance Forum, accompanied by an extensive industry programme that reflects trends, innovations and challenges faced by the industry.
“Our stories are our voices; they represent our culture, our history, our joy, our pain and our victories,” Magdalene Reddy, DFMI director, stated. “DFM is honoured to present a unique selection of African stories that will add to the successes that have gone before. We look forward to following the journey of these projects for years to come, as we do with all our project alumni. The DFM provides an important platform, not only to showcase the creative work of filmmakers but also to support them in building a cross continental community, creating networks and access.”
Durban FilmMart Institute serves as a film business hub with focus on promoting, supporting and facilitating investment in African cinema through specialised programmes. The Institute runs year-round developmental programmes, including an annual market (Durban FilmMart) and a recently launched online resource via filmmart.africa for enhancing African content visibility.
For DFM 2026, all 36 selected projects will undergo online one-on-one mentorship by leading industry experts ahead of the in-person pitch at Durban. Animation projects will receive additional support through involvement in the Digital Lab Africa (DLA) programme spearheaded by DFMI partner, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.
Below is the full list of selected projects for DFM 2026.
ANIMATION
Animated Series – Fiction
Beast Seeker
- Producer: Danielle Retief
- Director: Robyn Viljoen
- South Africa
capoZOOeira
- Producers: Mary Waweru Wanjiku, Carlos Zerpa Bravo
- Director: Orlymar Paredes
- Kenya, Brazil
Hadu: The Series
- Producer: Damilola Solesi
- Director: Precious Anih
- Nigeria
JUJU SOCCER
- Producers: Oge Obasi, Somto Ajuluchukwu
- Director: C.J. Obasi
- Nigeria
Nerve
- Producers: Raffaella Delle Donne, Renee Van Reenen
- Director: Tshepo Moche
- South Africa
Sunday Morning
- Producer: Nahom Abiy
- Director: Minasie Terefe
- Ethiopia
Animated Short – Fiction
In Her Hands
- Producer: Gehad El Akhal
- Director: Hagar Basiony
- Egypt
Animated – Feature length fiction
MIDNIGHT METRO
- Producer: Wako Sefara
- Director: Lesego Vorster
- South Africa
FICTION FEATURES
A Touch of Paradise
- Producer: Sarra Ben Hassen
- Director: Houcem Slouli
- Tunisia
Arbaa Shuhuor wu Ashara Ayam (Four Months and Ten Days)
- Producer: Alsamoual Hussein
- Director: Alyaa Musa
- Sudan
Fairway to Freedom
- Producer: Tarina Patel
- South Africa
HOLY COW (selected at El Gouna 2025 through partnership)
- Producer and Director: Asmae el Moudir
- Morocco
MIETA
- Producer: Neil Brandt
- Director: Carla Fonseca Mokgata
- South Africa
MOTHER THERESA
- Producer: Shema Faustin
- Director: Mutiganda wa Nkunda
- Rwanda
Taht El Sama El Khadra’ (Under Green Skies)
- Producer: Yara Goubran
- Director: Jad Chahine
- Egypt
The Boy Who Spoke Static
- Producer: Mathew Cerf
- Director: The Agbajowo Collective
- Nigeria
Vino Amargo (Bitter Wine)
- Producer: Davide Franciscus
- Director: Pablo Pinedo Bóveda
- South Africa
Waslap (selected through DFM ACCESS)
- Producer and Director: Batandwa Alperstein
- South Africa
FICTION SERIES
AGAIN
- Producer: Giresse Kassonga
- Director: Erickey Bahati
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
Daddies
- Producer: Cati Weinek
- Director: Sean Mongie
- South Africa
Fafi
- Producer and Director: Dominique Jossie
- South Africa
FISI (HYENA)
- Producer: Mkamzee Mwatela
- Director: Sanele Zulu
- Kenya
Smoke & Mirrors
- Producer: Luke Rous
- Director: Jozua Malherbe
- South Africa
The Coven (selected through DFM ACCESS)
- Producer and Director: Sihle Mthembu
- South Africa
DOCUMENTARY
Documentary Series
Children of the Nile
- Producer and Director: Tina Obo
- Uganda
Documentary Features
Banat aljaziea alkhadra’ (GREEN ISLAND’S GIRLS)
- Producer: Amrosh Badr
- Director: Rogena Tarek
- Egypt
DESIGNING DIVIDE (selected at Talents Durban 2025)
- Producer and Director: Jessie Ayles
- South Africa
Gwijo Nation
- Producer: Quinton Fredericks
- Director: Sesihle Manzini
- South Africa
LE FIL ET LE MUR (THE THREAD AND THE WALL)
- Producer and Director: Mouni Boullam
- Algeria, France
MA NUIT DU DJOMELE (My Djomele Night)
- Producer: Hicham Falah
- Director: Barkima Nafissatou Laguempedo
- Burkina Faso
Majuto si Mjukuu (Heirs of no Regret)
- Producer: Mumo Liku
- Director: Saitabao Kaiyare
- Kenya
MDANTSANE – HOME OF BOXING (selected through DFM ACCESS)
- Producer and Director: Phumlani Veto
- South Africa
The Ones With The Tempered Flowers
- Producer: Ivy Kiru
- Director: Neema Ngelime
- Tanzania
Urban Zulu: The Busi Mhlongo Story
- Producer: Struan Douglas, coproducer: Vusi Mchunu
- Director: Rehad Desai
- South Africa
Waiting for Evolution
- Producer and director: Karin Slater
- South Africa
WHERE DO I BELONG?
- Producer: Talal Afifi
- Director: Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmed
- Sudan