The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) announces the project selection for the annual DFM Pitch and Finance Forum 2026

Thirty-six African film projects have been selected for the 17th Durban FilmMart Africa’s leading film finance and co-production market that will now take place from 9 to 12 October, in Durban, South Africa.

The market will present an array of projects, including 8 animation, 10 fiction features, 10 documentary features and 7 series projects in development at the Pitch and Finance Forum alongside a robust industry programme which will focus on current trends, innovations, and challenges faced by the industry.

Magdalene Reddy, DFMI director, says:

“Our stories are our voices; they represent our culture, our history, our joy, our pain and our victories.  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

The 36 selected projects will be given the opportunity to prepare for their participation at DFM with online one-on-one mentorship by leading industry experts to ensure that they are collaborator- and investor-ready when they get to Durban for the in-person pitch.

The 8 animation projects will receive additional support from industry experts through participation in the Digital Lab Africa (DLA) programme presented by DFM partner, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.

The 2026 DFM Official Projects:

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

  • Producer: Raffaella Delle Donne, coproducer: 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
  • Director: Jahmil Qubeka
  • 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: David 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 Series

Children of the Nile

  • Producer and Director: Tina Obo
  • Uganda

Documentary Features

Banat aljazira 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

More information on this year’s theme can be found on the Durban FilmMart Institute’s website.

Delegate registration and programme details will be announced in due course.

The 17th edition Durban FilmMart is funded by the Durban Film Office, eThekwini Municipality, Ford Foundation, the National Film and Video Foundation and IEFTF.

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About Durban FilmMart Institute:
Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where professionals and products are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry. The Durban FilmMart Institute runs year round developmental programmes and an annual market (Durban FilmMart). The DFMI has recently launched Filmmart.africa which is an online tool for filmmakers to connect and which we hope will enhance visibility for African content. For more information about the DFMI programmes visit the website or contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com