Durban is set to become a cinematic epicentre once again as the Durban FilmMart returns from 18 to 21 July 2025, with a renewed and deliberate focus on the local film landscape. This year’s edition, under the banner ‘SA in Focus’, places South African cinema firmly centre stage.
Now recognised as one of the continent’s premier industry gatherings, Durban FilmMart has reaffirmed its role as a conduit between South African filmmakers and the wider African and international markets. The 2025 programme has been designed to delve deeply into the heart of the nation’s screen sector, bringing together creative practitioners, guilds, and decision-makers for vital dialogue and forward-thinking strategy.
Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute, noted that the time is ripe for bolstering the country’s cinematic ecosystem. “South African film is standing at a turning point. We have the knowledge, talent and experience—what we need now is stronger cohesion and collaboration,” she said. “SA in Focus is our way of building from the inside out, creating a sustainable base that supports both local achievement and international reach.”
At the centre of this effort is a packed agenda of forums, panels and showcases. Key among them is the flagship “State of the South African Audio-Visual Industry” session, featuring input from major players, including the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), SABC, and a range of provincial film commissions.
The programme also embraces the future of storytelling, with sessions examining the role of artificial intelligence in content creation, evolving copyright norms in the digital age, and mechanisms to foster international co-productions. Panels hosted by industry guilds—such as the Writers’ Guild of South Africa, the South African Guild of Actors and the Editors Guild—will address essential topics like creative rights, sustainability, and narrative authenticity.
Highlights include thought-provoking conversations under titles such as The African Aesthetic, Directors as Cultural Architects, and From Independent Producers to Intellectual Property—each one probing the pathways to global platforms for local stories.
Backed by eThekwini Municipality, the Durban FilmMart 2025 continues to solidify its position as a vital catalyst for professional development, industry growth, and cultural storytelling rooted in the South African experience.
