The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) continues to expand opportunities for filmmakers, film critics and industry professionals through strategic international partnerships that support talent development, industry access and cross-border collaboration.
Announcements made during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival highlighted two significant initiatives that will further advance support for emerging African film critics and Palestinian filmmakers engaging with the international marketplace.
New Partnership Creates Opportunity for Durban Talents Press Participant
At the Egyptian Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival, a new collaboration between the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Durban FilmMart Institute was announced during FIPRESCI’s annual reception.
The partnership will see FIPRESCI select an outstanding participant from the Talents Durban Press programme at Durban FilmMart 2026 to receive an award presented by CIFF. The selected critic will be invited to attend the Cairo International Film Festival, cover the festival’s activities and contribute to its English-language daily publication.
The initiative represents an important step in strengthening film criticism across the African continent and creating greater opportunities for emerging critical voices to engage with international film culture and discourse.
Managed by DFMI since 2019 the Talents Durban forms part of the global Berlinale Talents network and supports emerging African filmmakers and critics through mentorship, skills development and industry engagement. The Talent Press stream provides a dedicated platform for developing film criticism and nurturing the next generation of African film journalists and critics.
Speaking during the announcement, DFMI Director Magdalene Reddy welcomed the collaboration as a meaningful investment into film criticism, a fading art that the film industry desperately needs to revive.
Palestine Film Institute Returns to Durban FilmMart for the Fourth Consecutive Year
The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) has also announced the projects selected for its 2026 Showcase at Durban FilmMart, marking the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between the two organisations.
Four Palestinian feature films currently in development will be presented to international producers, festival programmers, funders and industry representatives attending Durban FilmMart 2026.
The Showcase forms part of PFI’s broader mission to develop, promote and preserve Palestinian cinema while creating sustainable international opportunities for Palestinian filmmakers and producers. Through direct engagement with key industry decision-makers, participating teams are able to build partnerships, advance projects and explore pathways towards production, financing and international circulation.
PFI’s international showcases remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen the visibility and sustainability of Palestinian cinema. By facilitating meaningful industry encounters, the initiative creates opportunities not only for individual projects but also for the long-term growth and recognition of Palestinian storytelling on the global stage.
The ongoing partnership between the DFMI and the PFI reflects a shared commitment to creating platforms for underrepresented voices, supporting diverse narratives and fostering meaningful industry connections across regions.
Selected projects for Durban FilmMart 2026
WITHIN SIGHT AND SOUND by Assia Boundaoui
What the Sand Remembers by Mahmoud Abu Ghalwa
On The Sea Road by Fitnat Waked
Echo from the Unsung by Raji Al Jaru, Sa’ed Al Jaru, Ash Moniz
Building Bridges Through Industry Collaboration
These announcements reinforce Durban FilmMart’s role as a platform where talent development, industry access and international collaboration intersect. By connecting filmmakers and critics with global networks and opportunities, DFMI continues to contribute to the growth of a more inclusive and interconnected screen industry.
As Durban FilmMart 2026 approaches, these partnerships underscore the importance of building sustainable creative ecosystems that support storytellers, critics and industry professionals from Africa and across the Global South.
The 17th edition Durban FilmMart is funded by the Durban Film Office, eThekwini Municipality, Ford Foundation, the National Film and Video Foundation and IEFTF.
For press enquiries please contact:
Sharlene Versfeld | Publicist | [email protected]
About Durban FilmMart Institute
Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where African professionals and content are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry. The Durban FilmMart Institute runs year-round developmental programmes and an annual market (Durban FilmMart). The DFMI is the custodian of Filmmart.africa which is an online tool for filmmakers to connect and which we hope will enhance visibility for African content.
About the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF)
The Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest internationally accredited film festivals in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. It is one of only 15 festivals globally to hold Category “A” status from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). The festival is held annually in Cairo during November, screening around 150 films from across the globe across nine sections, with the most prominent competing for the Golden Pyramid and Silver Pyramid awards.
About the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI)
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world. Founded in June 1925 in Brussels, it currently has members in over 80 countries. The Federation aims to promote and develop film culture, safeguard the professional interests of critics, and present its awards at major international film festivals.
About the Palestine Film Institute (PFI)
The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) is an independent Palestinian-led non-profit organization established in 2019 by a group of Palestinian film workers to support, connect, and sustain the ecosystem of Palestinian cinema across geographies. It emerged from a shared recognition of the need for an infrastructure that strengthens collaboration, solidarity, and the collective agency of Palestinian film workers.
