Talents Durban
Presented at the DFM annual market
Talents Durban is a training and development programme that brings together Africa’s rising film professionals – screenwriters and directors with fiction, documentary, animation, and hybrid projects in development (this includes all media formats such as film, television series, web series, and content for mobile platforms).
Talents Durban is an initiative of Berlin International Film Festival and is part of six international initiatives of Berlinale Talents. Talents Durban was founded in 2007 as a partnership between the Durban International Film Festival and Berlinale. Since 2019, Talents Durban has become a project of the Durban FilmMart Institute.
The Programmes
Storytelling Lab selects three features, three shorts and three TV/Web series currently in development. The stories are given advanced consultation and mentoring by three script editors, as well as participating in scriptwriting workshops.
Doc Lab is a hands-on training programme in which three Talents Durban participants who submitted documentary projects are given expert mentorship.
Animation Lab is open to screenwriters and animation directors with animation projects. The lab will focus on character development, visual development, and the business of animation in Africa.
Talent Press offers mentorship for emerging African film critics and journalists.
As well as focused mentorships, industry-specific expert masterclasses, workshops, and a creative platform for self-expression and networking
Official 2025 Talents Durban Participants and Projects:
Fiction Features
The Most High
(Uganda)
Samuel Kizito
MENELIK III
(Rwanda / Sudan)
Hassan Zaroug
No Man's Land
(South Africa)
Sean Mongie
Nuusiku
(Namibia)
Laudika Hamutenya
The Prophecy
(Senegal)
Rehanna Ngom
LET THIS DAY END
(Tunisia)
Karim Berrhouma
The Soil’s Silent Smell
(Ethiopia)
Melkamu Haile
Documentary Features
Designing Divide
(South Africa)
Jessie Ayles
Green Island Girls
(Egypt)
Rogena Tarek
One Man's Dream
(Malawi)
Chisomo Kawaga
Mwiba (A Thorn)
(Tanzania)
Gwantwa Mwakalinga
Ghana Must Go!
(Ghana)
Joewackle Kusi
KUMFOGA
(Togo)
Dissirama BESSOGA
Shorts
My Chicken (Huku Yangu)
(Zimbabwe)
Dereck NZIYAKWI
Based on Future Events: Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?
(Egypt)
Bassma Farah Nancy
DELIVERY MAN
(Côte d’Ivoire)
Ani ELIAM
Butterflies
(Nigeria)
Aghogho Onobrakpeya
Trucker Man
(South Africa)
Shiefaa Hendricks
Series
Mad Bounty and The Midnight Gun
(Uganda)
Talemwa Pius
Guess what?
(Egypt)
Hayat Aljowaily
Watching Over You
(South Africa)
Stephen Nagel
Survivors of Tromelin
(Madagascar)
Raissa Loussouf
Animation
Zein
(Egypt)
Nermeen Salem
Sisonkhe Kids Habits
(Eswatini)
Mfanelo Masuku
Akiki's Adventures in Azania
(South Africa)
Fatuma Abdullah
Rutu
(Kenya)
Mary Njoroge
Talent Press (Film Critic/ Journalist)
(Kenya)
Gloria Nkatha
(South Africa)
Tshi Malatji
(Ghana)
Alice Johnson
(South Africa)
Riley Hlatshwayo
(Egypt)
Mohamed Sayed
Past Projects
Past projects can be accessed in the ‘Archive‘
Application Information
Applications are currently closed.
Please follow us on social media for updates regarding the opening of applications and deadlines for submissions or you can sign up for our newsletter below.
Click here for more details on application information.
