The Durban FilmMart (DFM), one of Africa’s leading film finance and co-production markets, has postponed its 17th edition to 9-12 October 2026 after funding challenges made it difficult to proceed with the event in July.
The Durban FilmMart Institute said the decision was driven by a difficult global financial environment that has affected funding for film and the arts, alongside changes in key partnerships and declining local year-on-year support. The institute, a non-profit organization, said it remains committed to creating a platform where African and diaspora film professionals can meet, do business, exchange ideas, and shape the future of filmmaking on the continent.
Rescheduling the market, according to Director Magdalene Reddy, was not an easy decision, but one that had to be made in order to protect the long-term future of the event. “Despite the uncertainty we face with limited long term, multi-year support for the annual event, we believe that the space we create for African film professionals must exist,” Reddy said. She urged regular participants to keep the new dates open and join the market in October.
The 2026 edition will run under the theme Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves, inspired by Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène’s famous words: “Why be a sunflower and turn toward the sun? I, myself, am the sun.” Organizers say the theme reflects the need to rethink how African film is funded, distributed, and co-produced in a rapidly changing global environment.
This year’s DFM will focus on alternative film funding pathways, more equitable co-production frameworks, and new models for distribution. It is also expected to create space for authentic partnerships that strengthen the continent’s film ecosystem while responding to economic and social shifts affecting the industry worldwide.
Despite the date change, all core market activities will go ahead as planned. These include the Pitch and Finance Forum for live action, documentary, and animation projects, Talents Durban, and the Industry Programme featuring panel discussions, masterclasses, and think tanks.
DFM organizers say the event remains an important fixture on the international co-production calendar and a key platform for African cinema. Industry players, partners, and stakeholders are now being encouraged to support the market by turning out for the new October dates.
