The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) is supporting Talents Durban, the professional development programme of the Durban FilmMart Institute, which brings together emerging filmmakers from across Africa to develop projects in fiction, documentary, animation and hybrid formats.
Around 20 screenwriters and directors will take part in a programme combining online training with in-person mentorship in Durban from 9 to 12 October 2026. Sessions will cover story development, character-building, pitching and the transition from short films to feature-length work, with participants also presenting their projects to industry professionals for feedback and guidance.
Among the selected participants is Lesotho filmmaker Moso Sematlane, who attended the Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film earlier this year as part of the New Voices of Southern Africa delegation.
Talents Durban forms part of the wider Durban FilmMart, an established platform connecting African filmmakers with producers, financiers and industry professionals from the continent and beyond.
Meet the selected participants for Talents Durban 2026Â here.

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