The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) pronounces the lineup of tasks and members for the 18th version of Skills Durban, happening through the Durban FilmMart (DFM) in Durban from 18th to twenty first July 2025.
Because the African satellite tv for pc programme of the Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant and Berlinale Skills, Skills Durban holds a major place inside the DFMI’s programming portfolio.
Berlinale Skills is a networking platform organised by the Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant, providing an area for rising filmmakers to attach, study, and collaborate. Skills Durban serves as its African counterpart, offering an identical platform particularly tailor-made to the continent’s distinctive filmmaking panorama.
“The calibre and variety of purposes this 12 months replicate the rising vibrancy of African storytelling,” mentioned DFMI Director, Magdalene Reddy. “This 12 months’s cohort demonstrates exceptional innovation in type and content material, with tasks that naturally embody our theme of constructing bridges. All through the intensive four-day in-person programme and the 2-month on-line programme, these rising skills is not going to solely develop their technical expertise but in addition forge lasting connections with trade professionals and fellow creators from throughout the continent – connections that may maintain African cinema’s development for years to return.”
This version of Skills Durban is distinguished by its inclusion of members from 16 African nations, who collectively replicate the continent’s variety of rising movie professionals. The choice course of was extremely aggressive, with over 500 purposes ensuing within the alternative of 26 distinctive tasks and 5 movie critics, every bringing a recent perspective to options, documentaries, shorts, collection, animation, and movie criticism.
Chosen Skills will take part in a collection of project-oriented, hands-on expertise growth programmes. These embody periods corresponding to Story Junction, the place members current their tasks to producers and financiers, alongside masterclasses and one-on-one mentorship alternatives. Domoina Ratsara, Francis Brown, Joel Karekezi, Karabo Lediga, Laza Razanajatovo, Mamounata Nikiemai, Mayye Zayedi, Mmabatho Kau, Rumbi Katedzai and Tarek Mohamed will function mentors for the 2025 version. They may present invaluable steerage and generously share their experience with the members.
The Venture Supervisor of Berlinale Skills, Nikola Joetze, highlighted the anticipation shared by this 12 months’s members, stating: “We’re deeply impressed by the sturdy, rising cinematic voices from the African continent. So it goes with out saying that we’re extraordinarily proud to have the Durban Filmmart as our wonderful associate with Skills Durban offering this wealthy and highly effective springboard for pan-African filmmakers to additional strengthen their careers, construct necessary networks, and be a part of and enrich the worldwide neighborhood of Berlinale Skills. Congratulations to the chosen Skills, and thanks to the complete Skills Durban staff, together with the wonderful mentors. We can’t wait to see these tasks thrive, seem on display screen sooner or later, and listen to the ideas and reflections of the chosen movie critics!”
Because the premier movie market in Africa, the sixteenth version of the Durban FilmMart, beneath the theme “Bridges Not Borders: Tales that Unite,” welcomes trade professionals to Durban for a four-day engagement. The occasion recognises that energy lies in connection moderately than isolation, supporting artistic visions, creating new distribution pathways, and pioneering audiovisual frontiers. DFM celebrates the progressive and artistic skills who’re crafting the long run narrative of African cinema.
Go to the DFMI web site to study extra about this 12 months’s Skills Durban tasks and members.