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 2026 Talents Durban Participants and Projects:
Feature Fiction
Dogi Dogi
(Tanzania)
Kelvin Kagambo
Bare Feet
(Ghana)
Lawrencia Larbi-Amoah
The Violent Type
(South Africa)
Meekaaeel Adam
THE BASEMENT
(Democratic Republic of Congo)
Mélanie K. ZAWADI
The Things We Leave Behind
(Nigeria)
Russell Oru
The Words I Do Not Have
(Kenya)
Shandra Apondi
Documentaries
SABARY
(Sudan)
Ahmed Shams Nagm Eldin
The birth of Derna
(Libya)
Hussein Eddeb
ABÉTI
(Democratic Republic of Congo)
Junior Mozese
Rivers: Under Threat
(South Africa)
Michelle Simon
Fitampoha, the return of the king of Menabe
(Madagascar)
Ramaroson Razafimbelo Anatole
Goodbye Party
(Tunisia)
Sarra El Abed
Fiction Series
Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences?
(Nigeria)
Cheyi Okoaye
Slightly Awkward
(South Africa)
Des Dlamini
Borrowed Skin
(Botswana)
Rudo Furusa
The Eleventh Year
(Mali)
SOGOBA Hawa
Short Fiction
Rukia
(Uganda)
Daisy Masembe
Facing the Sun
(Egypt)
Ghazzal Abdullah
Nightbirds
(Lesotho)
Moso Sematlane
Awake
(Ghana)
Sarah Abena Adjei
The Last Tree on Kilimanjaro
(Zimbabwe)
Tendaiishe Chitima
Only We Remain
(South Africa)
Xola Limba
Animation
All you sheep
(Zimbabwe)
Jack Machiridza
Alexandria Forever
(Egypt)
Kirollos George
Amandla
(South Africa)
Pule Mohotsi
Talent Press (Film Critic/ Journalist)
(Madagascar)
Domoina RATSARA
(Nigeria)
Elijah Oluwanisola
(South Africa)
Hlumela Luvuno
(Kenya)
Michelle Abuti
(Burkina Faso)
NEYA Harouna
(Nigeria)
Wilfred Okiche
Past Projects
Past projects can be accessed in the ‘Archive‘
Application Information
Applications are currently closed.
Click here for more details on application information.
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