The four-day industry programme will explore new approaches to film financing, international co-productions, artificial intelligence and mobile-first storytelling across Africa’s film industry.
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has unveiled the industry programme for Durban FilmMart 2026, bringing together filmmakers, producers, investors and other industry stakeholders for four days of discussions on the future of African cinema.
Scheduled to take place in Durban from October 9 to 12, the event will examine developments shaping the continent’s film industry, including alternative financing models, international partnerships, artificial intelligence (AI), animation and the growing popularity of vertical drama.
The programme will also feature dedicated Impact and Animation Day sessions, alongside discussions organised with industry partners.
DFMI director Magdalene Reddy said the programme reflects an industry experiencing new opportunities while confronting questions about technology, advocacy and who has the power to shape its future.
The discussions are expected to explore how African filmmakers can reach wider audiences, secure sustainable financing and retain greater control over their creative work.
Rethinking film financing and creative ownership
Film financing and collaboration will be major themes at this year’s event, with sessions examining alternatives to conventional investment and production arrangements.
The session Talking Cents | Where’s The Change: Co-production Beyond Financial Collaboration will explore collaborative approaches that extend beyond funding to include shared responsibility and stronger relationships between creative partners.
Another session, Talking Cents | More Than Making Cents: A New View on Financing Film, will consider cooperative financing models and other alternatives that could give filmmakers greater creative control and ownership of their intellectual property.
These discussions address a longstanding challenge for independent African filmmakers: finding the resources to produce ambitious projects without sacrificing control over their stories and the rights associated with them.
The programme will also examine film advocacy through Who Is Fighting Our Corner? Film Advocacy and Lobbying on the African Continent. Representatives from industry guilds, professional associations, filmmaker collectives and civil society will discuss efforts to strengthen the sector, the effectiveness of existing advocacy strategies and the role audiences can play.
From Durban FilmMart to the Cannes Film Festival
International recognition will feature through a case study involving producer Samantha Biffot and Ben’Imana, a Rwandan-Gabonese drama directed by Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo.
In From the DFM to the Croisette: Samantha Biffot on Producing “Ben’Imana”, Biffot will discuss the film’s development from an early-stage project presented at Durban FilmMart to its appearance in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The film subsequently won the FIPRESCI Prize and the Caméra d’Or, according to the supplied report.
The session will examine the practical challenges of assembling an international co-production involving Rwanda, Gabon, France, Norway and Ivory Coast.
It will also explore how a story centred on memory and survival after genocide can move from an early development pitch to an international audience.
The case study highlights the potential role of film markets in connecting African projects with international partners, financing opportunities and festival platforms.
AI and animation reshape creative possibilities
Artificial intelligence will be another focus, particularly its potential impact on Africa’s emerging animation industry.
The AI and Animation session will examine both the opportunities and risks associated with using AI in animation production. Discussions are expected to consider how the technology could influence creative workflows and the longer-term development of the sector.
The subject raises important questions for African creators, including how new tools might reduce production barriers while preserving artistic ownership, employment opportunities and distinctive cultural storytelling.
Animation will receive further attention through CTIAF’s Animation Day, which will focus on the business and infrastructure needed to build a sustainable animation industry.
Together, the sessions will consider how technological change could affect the way African stories are developed, produced and distributed.
Could vertical drama create new opportunities?
Mobile-first storytelling will also feature in the programme through Short Form, Big Impact: The Rise of Vertical Dramas.
Vertical drama uses portrait-format video, typically designed for smartphone viewing, and often relies on short episodes and fast-moving narratives.
The format has attracted attention as creators and media businesses explore new ways to distribute entertainment and generate revenue through mobile platforms.
At Durban FilmMart, industry participants will consider its growing presence in Africa and whether it can provide a viable commercial route for local writers, directors, producers and other content creators.
The discussion will examine the relationship between short-form storytelling, audience behaviour and emerging business models, as filmmakers look beyond traditional feature films and television productions.
Strengthening international co-productions
The programme’s Co-production Focus will investigate how partnerships can deliver creative as well as financial value.
Fruits of Labour: Service as a Form of Coproduction will question whether South African service companies should be recognised as genuine creative partners in international productions.
Meanwhile, South Africa as Coproducing Partner will address administrative challenges affecting the country’s treaty co-production network.
The programme will also look beyond established international relationships through Brazil-Africa: Building Bridges Through Coproduction, which will explore opportunities for collaboration between partners in the Global South.
Another strand, The Power of Programming, will examine pressures facing international film festivals, the infrastructure required to support the industry and the possibility that existing systems exclude certain filmmakers or projects.
Two closed-door think tanks focused on distribution and audience design will also consider practical ways to connect films with African audiences on their own terms.
Impact filmmaking and new storytelling perspectives
Beyond commercial filmmaking, Durban FilmMart 2026 will include programming on documentary impact and natural-world storytelling.
Doc Day: Impact Edition, presented by Doc Society and its partners, will examine impact producing as a distinct discipline alongside directing and financing. The sessions will consider how documentary projects can approach audience engagement and broader social impact.
The New Earth Wildlife Foundation’s Beyond the Wild sessions will explore natural-world storytelling through questions of spirituality, authorship and ownership.
International participation will include a Canadian delegation and a Cross Continental Forum panel marking the forum’s 25th anniversary.
Building the future of African cinema
The 2026 programme reflects an African film industry navigating changes in technology, financing, distribution and international collaboration.
For filmmakers, these developments present opportunities to reach new audiences and explore alternative production models. They also raise questions about intellectual property, sustainable funding, fair partnerships and the ability of local creators to retain control over their work.
By bringing these issues together, Durban FilmMart aims to provide a platform for industry participants to exchange ideas, build relationships and consider practical approaches to strengthening African cinema.
The discussions around AI, animation and vertical drama will be particularly relevant as creators assess how emerging technologies and formats can support African storytelling while creating sustainable opportunities for the people behind it….Read More