The 4th edition of the DFM ACCESS programme, supported by the National Film and Video Foundation PESP funding, wrapped up after 8 weeks of intense online mentorship and weekly plenary sessions with 3 days of pitching for the selection of 3 projects which will participate in DFM Pitch and Finance Forum 2026.
The DFM ACCESS programme supports producers in shaping their stories, preparing their project presentations and understanding the marketplace in order to create effective strategies for their current projects and to plan their professional trajectory.
Project participants were mentored by some of South Africa’s leading film professionals: Jacintha de Nobrega; Tracey-Lee Rainers; Sihle Hlope; Tiny Mungwe; Bongi Ndaba; Kethiwe Ngcobo; Busisiwe Ntintili; Teboho Pietersen; Miki Redelinghuys; Nicole Schafer; Bonie Sithebe and Thandeka Zwana.Whilst attending weekly masterclasses presented by Bongiwe Selane, Carolyn Carew, Cait Pansegrouw, Mmabatho Kau, Rethabile Ramaphakela Thandi Davids, Toni Monty, Unathi Malunga, Mitchell Harper, Neil Brandt, Pascal Schmitz and Sean Drummond.
Selected Participants and Projects
At the end of the programme, all projects were invited to pitch to an independent industry panel who selected three projects to pitch at DFM 2026 in person.
We are pleased to announce the following projects who will participate in the 17th DFM Pitch and Finance Forum:
- MDANTSANE – HOME OF BOXING (Documentary Feature) produced and directed by Pumlani Veto
- Waslap (Fiction Feature) produced and directed by Batandwa Alperstein
- The Coven (Series) produced by Sihle Mthembu
The 17th edition of the annual Durban FilmMart will take place from 24 – 27 July 2026
The Programme is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Presidential Stimulus Programme (PESP).
The open call for DFM Pitch and Finance forum will open in early October for all African filmmakers with projects in development who wish to be considered to pitch at DFM 2026. The call will be open to both live action and animation projects, feature length films or series.