The following are eligible to submit applications for selection as an official Durban FilmMart project:

• Projects in which the producer, director or writer is an African citizen. Proof of African citizenship must be provided through a certified copy of a valid African passport or identification document
• Africans living in the Diaspora, but who still have African citizenship.
• Projects with a producer and director attached.
• Non-African industry professionals – producers, directors, and writers – with projects looking for African partners can apply to be a delegate. Admission to the Durban FilmMart as a delegate is by registration and payment of a registration fee. The online delegate registration opens in May each year. 

Technical Evaluation – Application will be evaluated according to eligibility criteria

Project Evaluation – A panel of industry professionals will evaluate the submission and project package

Confirming shortlisted projects – Shortlisted projects will be contacted for availability and confirmation

Announcement of official selection – Public announcement of participants

All enquiries pertaining to the programme must be directed to DFMI via [email protected]

• 1. Applicants may submit more than one project for consideration but only one project can be selected for each applicant per programme cycle.

  2. Projects selected as official projects for a particular programme cycle cannot be submitted again.

  3. Successful applicants will be required to submit documents to prove the ownership of all the intellectual property rights of the film. Should team members change, DFMI needs to be notified of the change.

  4. A single representative must be present during the entire programme: Mentorship (online) Masterclass Series (Feb – March 2026) One on one mentorship (March – July 2026)

  22 – 27 July 2026 Event period (in person), as part of the annual Durban Filmmart

  5. Travel will be covered by DFMI. This will include economy flight (round trip) per project travelling from within Africa and accommodation for 1 project representative only.

  Flight liability

  – Should there be any change in travel dates, desinations or indidvuals travelling, this will be for your own account. – All travel documents, including visas and vaccination certificates need to correspond with travel dates. If the representative is denied to go on flight they will have to reimburse DFMI – DFMI does not cover the costs of visa applications. – If DFMI books a flight and the representative withdraws from the project or participating DFM. The representative who flight was booked for must reimburse DFMI.

  6. The Durban FilmMart Institute reserves the right to alter programme guidelines with general public notice to all potential applicants.

  7. Applicants are not permitted to direct any questions or comments to evaluation panel members in advance of deadlines or following decisions. All enquiries pertaining to the programme must be directed to Durban FilmMart Institute staff.

  8. The Durban FilmMart Institute support is to be acknowledged with a Durban FilmMart Institute credit and logo on promotional materials relating to the project, subject to customary exclusions and exceptions.

  9. Once the project is completed, the credits must mention that the project was pitched at the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum.