SA filmmakers win 8 awards at Durban FilmMart

The winners were announced on Monday. Source: Supplied.

The highly successful premier film industry event in Africa, which took place from 21 – 24 July 2023, returned as a 4-day physical gathering in Durban under the theme African Constellations. The event was attended by film professionals and filmmakers from both the continent and overseas.

Range of opportunities

The event featured 28 official projects, in addition to 7 partner projects, offering attendees a diverse range of opportunities to engage and connect. With 44 industry sessions and 23 Talents Durban participants, DFM fostered a vibrant atmosphere of knowledge exchange and innovation.

The event attracted 70 influential decision-makers, both in the physical and online platforms, further enhancing the networking and collaboration prospects. The scale of the conference was inspiring, as 1018 delegates from 43 countries came together to take African cinema forward.

DFM’s Pan-African programme seeks to discover and bring together filmmakers and leading industry role players from various backgrounds and identities, spanning the continent, the diaspora, and the Global South. The increase of opportunities and platforms for African filmmakers is at the core of the Industry Programme, project selection and developmental initiatives.

“We are delighted to have hosted a diverse array of industry professionals from around the world for our in-person event, while also making select sessions available online.” said Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI). “The outstanding calibre of the physical programme presentations and film projects once again underscored the exceptional talent present on our continent. We are hugely grateful to our partners from across the globe for helping DFM celebrate African storytellers, producers and content creators.”

Award Winners:

DFM Talents Durban Award:

Jua Kali (Kenya)
Director and screenwriter: Joash Omondi
Joash Omondi will present Jua Kali at the DFM 2024 Pitch and Finance Forum.

OIF-ACP-EU Award:

Graft (Zimbabwe)
Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya and director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Sue-Ellen Chitunya and Naishe Nyamubaya will receive mentorship from the OIF collaboration.

JCC Carthage Pro / Chabaka Prize:

Coconut (South Africa)
Producer: Bongiwe Selane, Dineo Lusenga and director: Karabo Lediga
Coconut will participate at Carthage Film Festival (28 October - 4 November 2023).

The Sheffield DocFest Award:

Beyond Fela (Nigeria)
Producer: Aderonke Adeola, Bolaji Kekere Ekun and director: Aderonke Adeola
Beyond Fela will participate at Sheffield DocFest (12 - 17 June 2024).

Fagukesi / The Digital Lab Africa Award:

Boy Boi (Kenya)
Producer: Shadrack Munene, J. Njogu Macharia and director J. Njogu Macharia
Boy Boi will participate in a residency programme at Digital Lab Africa

Visions du Réel Award:

Flying Like a Bird (Morocco)
Producer: Hicham Falah and director: El Mahdi Lyoubi
Flying Like a Bird will participate at Visions du Réel in 2024.

The Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents / IFAS Award:

Every Stitch a Lonely Thread (South Africa)
Producer: Tiny Mungwe and director: Jannous Nkululeko Aukema
Every Stitch a Lonely Thread will participate at Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents (24 November - 4 December 2023)

The FIDA DOC Award:

ZERRI3A MORRA (BITTER SEED) (Algeria)
Director: Camélia Gadhgadhi
Camélia Gadhgadhi will participate at FIDA DOC’s Pan-African Writing Residency (2023 - 2024).

The Special GZDOC Invitation:

In My Father’s House (Morocco)
Producer: Merieme Addou and director: Rachida El Garani
In My Father’s House will participate at the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival Market Pitch in 2024.

MiradasDoc Award:

In My Father’s House (Morocco)
Producer: Merieme Addou and director: Rachida El Garani
In My Father’s House will participate at MiradasDoc 2024.

The Sørfond Award:

Every Stitch a Lonely Thread
Producer: Tiny Mungwe and Director: Jannous Nkululeko Aukema
Every Stitch a Lonely Thread will participate at the Sørfond in November 2024.

IDFA Spotlight Award:

Cirta (Tunisia)
Producer: Olfa Ben Achour and director: Saif Chida
Cirta will participate in a tailor-made programme at IDFA (8 - 19 November 2023).

The DOK Leipzig Award:

EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED (South Africa)
Producer: Thandi Davids and director: Beverley Ditsie
EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED will participate at the DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market in 2024.

The DOK.fest München Award:

Cirta (Tunisia)
Producer: Olfa Ben Achour and director: Saif Chida
Cirta will participate at DOK.forum Marketplace at DOK.fest München in 2024.

The Cinemart Award:

Graft (Zimbabwe)
Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya and director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Graft will participate at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam Cinemart Lab.

The Whickers Bursary:

Wildfire (South Africa, Canada)
Producer: Seregeo Kirby, Laura Colucci and director: Zahra Moloo
Wildfire will receive a bursary to the value of £3,000.

Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Award:

The Circuit (Cameroon)
Producer: Martinel Nemalieu and director: Arice Siapi
The Circuit will receive an award to the value of $1,000 CAD.

International Documentary Association Award:

Cirta (Tunisia)
Producer: Olfa Ben Achour and director: Saif Chida
Cirta will receive a grant to the value of $5000, 1 Getting Real Fellowship and free one-year Doc Maker Membership to IDA.

TRT Cinema Award:

Coconut (South Africa)
Producer: Bongiwe Selane, Dineo Lusenga and director: Karabo Lediga
Coconut will receive an award to the value of $5,000.

Sisters in Cinema Filmmakers Sustainability Award:

EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED (South Africa)
Producer: Thandi Davids and director: Beverley Ditsie
EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED producer Dr. Beverly Ditsie will receive an award to the value of $2,500.

Red Sea Development Grant:

Nomvelo and the Wolf (South Africa)
Producer: Leanne Gail Kumalo and director: Lindokuhle Langa
Nomvelo and the Wolf will receive a grant to the value of $10,000.

Red Sea Development Grant:

Wildfire (South Africa, Canada)
Producer: Seregeo Kirby, Laura Colucci and director: Zahra Moloo
Wildfire will receive a grant to the value of $10,000.

Red Sea Post-Production Grant:

In My Father’s House (Morocco)
Producer: Merieme Addou and director: Rachida El Garani
In My Father’s House will receive a grant to the value of $20,000.

NFVF Best Fiction:

Graft (Zimbabwe)
Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya and director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Graft will receive an award to the value of R100,000.

NFVF Best Non-Fiction:

Flying Like a Bird (Morocco)
Producer: Hicham Falah and director: El Mahdi Lyoubi
Flying Like a Bird will receive an award to the value of R100,000.

As the 14th edition comes to a close, the legacy of the Durban FilmMart shines brightly, illuminating a path of growth, connection and inspiration for African filmmakers, the diaspora and the Global South. The impact of this event reverberates through the film industry, empowering countless creatives and propelling African cinema to new heights.