​The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is ecstatic that five film projects, that were part of the DFM, have been selected as submissions for the 93rd Academy Awards by their respective countries. The final nominations will be announced in mid-March.

The DFM Institute, supported by the Durban Film Office, is key to bringing together filmmakers with thought leaders, film funders, festival programmers, agents, buyers, and distributors to get down to the business of making films.  Included in this is the internationally regarded Finance and Pitching Forum which, in 2020, saw 80 film projects in development connect with possible markets and partners and funders.

“Some of the successful projects that had their beginnings at the DFM have been officially selected as submissions for the 2021 Academy Awards – this includes Lift like a Girl (Egypt) directed by Mayye Zayed, This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection (Lesotho) directed by Lemohang Mosese, You will Die at 20  (Sudan) directed by Amjad Abu Alala, Softie (Kenya) directed by Sam Soko and The Letter (Kenya) directed by Maia Lekow and Christopher King,” said Acting General Manager of the DFM Institute Magdalene Reddy.

The 12th DFM will take place virtually from 16 to 25 July, with its call for submissions of film projects in development closing on 21 February.

Reddy said drawing on the success of last year’s virtual event and the unpredictability of the Covid-19 pandemic in the foreseeable future, the DFM Institute board has taken the decision to implement a virtual DFM for 2021.

Fifteen feature-length documentary and 15 fiction projects will be selected by a DFM Independent Adjudication Committee for the Pitching Forum where the director and producer will participate in a packaging and mentorship programme. This will be followed by one-on-one meetings with international film financiers, buyers, and distributors.

Full details about project submissions, criteria, and how to submit a project, can be found using the link http://www.durbanfilmmart.co.za/ProjectSubmissions. Submissions close on 21 February.