31 film projects across Africa selected to pitch at Durban FilmMart’s Finance Forum

A total of 230 documentary and feature fiction projects were submitted for this year’s edition, and after a rigorous adjudication process with a panel of film experts, 31 projects were selected for the finance forum.

The projects, which have, as a proviso, at least one African director or producer involved, came from 13 countries including South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, and Zimbabwe.

“By going virtual this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to seize the opportunity to extend the call for submissions, as well as include a further 11 projects into the usual pool of 20 to pitch,” said Toni Monty, head of the DFM. He stated that what is exciting is how the projects echo the theme of Brave New Cinema, as stories presented relevant Afrocentric themes across a variety of genres.

“It is evident that the content possibilities, within the continent, are growing, and the quality of projects presented is maturing, which makes for an exciting dynamic for African film-making,” he continued.

The selected projects, 16 documentaries and 15 fiction features, will have the opportunity to present a pre-recorded pitch to a panel for investors, agents, distributors, content editors, broadcasters, and programmers for possible further development.

DFM 2020 PROJECT SELECTION

DOCUMENTARY SELECTION

Abo Zabaal 1989, (Egypt): producer: Kesmat El Sayed and director: Bassam Mortada

Beyond the Light Barrier (South Africa): producer: Uga L Carlini, associate producers: Jacqui Teasdale-Pearson and Dumi Gumbi and director: Uga L Carlini

Big Boys Don’t Cry, (Egypt): producer: Hala Lotfy, co-producer: Philipp Mairice Raube and director: Muhammad Mustapha

Des Espoirs (Hope), (Tunisia): producers: Erige Sehiri, Carine Ruszniewski and Clothilde Bunod, and director: Dhia Jerbi

E Quem Cozinha? (And Who Will Cook?), (Cape Verde): producer and director: Samira Vera-Cruz

How to Build a Library, (Kenya): produced and directed by Maia Lekow and Christopher King

Les Oublies (The Forgotten Ones), (Mali): producers: Abdoulsalam Hama and Julien Fiorentino and director: Ousmane Samassekou

Man of God, (South Africa): producer: Jack Chiang and director: Poppy Madela

The Ship and the Sea (O Navio e o Mar), (Mozambique): producer: Lara Sousa, co-producer: Matheus Mello and directors: Lara Sousa and Everlane Moraes

Our Bomb for Pan Africa, (South Africa): producer: Jean Meeran and director: Eva Njoki Munyiri

Rising up at Night, (Democratic Republic of the Congo): producers: Dada Kahindo and Rosa Spaliviero and director: Nelson Makengo

The House is Burning, (South Africa): producers: Natalie Geyser and Sara Gouveia and director: Sara Gouveia

The Men Who Speak Gayle, (South Africa): producers: Georgie Paget and Thembisa Cochrane and director: Andrew Brukman
The Wall of Death, (Morocco): producers: Merieme Addou, Alexis Taillant and Nadege Labe and director: Amine Sabir

Twelve Pangas, (South Africa): producers: James Tayler and Xola Mteto and director: Xola Mteto

What Is Eating my Mind, (Kenya): producer: Sam Soko and director: Noella Luka

FICTION SELECTION

A Can Of Condensed Milk (Working Title), (South Africa): producer: Julie Laurenz and director: Sara Blecher

Al Bahs An Manfaz L Khoroug Al Sayed Rambo (Seeking Haven For Mr Rambo), (Egypt): producer: Rasha Hosny and director: Khaled Mansour

Al Mostamara (The Settlement), (Egypt): producers: Hala Lotfy and Etienne de Ricaud and director: Mohamed Ibrahim

Ape Town, (South Africa): producer: Bridget Pickering, director: Kurt Oderson and screenwriter: Rea Human

Goodbye Julia (Sudan): producer: Amjad Abu Alala and director: Mohamed Kordofani

Mehal Sefari (Median), (Ethiopia): producer: Tamara Dawit and director: Abraham Gezahagne

Over The Republic, (South Africa): executive producer: Ramadan Suleman and director: Lamar Bonhomme
Searching For Lebo, (Kenya): producer: Matrid Nyagah and director: Simon Mukali

Sola, (Chad): producers: Wilf Varvill, Arnaud Dommerc and Michael Henrichs and director: Issa Serge Coelo

Stellar Collision, (South Africa): producer: Layla Swart and director: Thishiwe Ziqubu

The Accident, (South Africa): producer: Khosi Dali and director: Imran Hamdulay

The Weekend, (South Africa): producer: Akona Matyila and director: Kenneth Gwele

Vlees Van My Vlees (Flesh from my Flesh), (South Africa): producers: Lucia Meyer-Marais and Jozua Malherbe and director: Matthys Boshoff

Vrees (Fear), (South Africa): producer: Corne Van Rooyen and director: Rene Van Rooyen

We All Fall Down, (Zimbabwe): producer and director: Tapiwa Chipfupa

Besides the Finance Forum, the DFM will host several webinars with panel discussions, conversations, forums and hangouts for filmmakers with film industry experts, where they will be able to benchmark themselves, expand their professional knowledge, pitch projects and ideas in meetings and extend their network on a global level.

The 2020 DFM takes place on line from September 4 to 13. Registration opened on July 31 at www.durbanfilmmart.com.