The 16th Durban FilmMart concluded on July 21 with the 2025 DFM Awards, welcoming 1,364 film professionals from 63 countries under the theme “Bridges Not Borders: Stories That Unite.”
This year’s event showcased winners across various categories, honoring exceptional projects in development and highlighting the emerging talent within African filmmaking.
Magdalene Reddy, director of the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI), expressed, “We were thrilled to host such a vibrant gathering of filmmakers from across Africa. They trusted us with their projects and ideas, engaging in meaningful conversations that made this a truly African event.”
“This year’s showcased talent and film projects reflect the richness of African cinema. The memories forged, networks widened, and collaborations initiated have greatly contributed to DFM’s impactful legacy. Our sincere gratitude goes out to our partners for their efforts in uplifting African storytellers, producers, and content creators.”
The event concluded on a high note with the distribution of 39 awards from 34 partners, amounting to over R1.5 million in total.
Here are the cash award recipients:
Best Fiction – Grant of R100,000
The Second Coming (South Africa)
Producer: Siyabonga Xaba
Director: Michael James
Best Non-Fiction – Grant of R100,000
The Salt of the South (Tunisia)
Producer: Ramzi Laâmouri
Director: Rami Jarboui
Best Animation – Grant of R100,000
Crocodile Dance (South Africa, Nigeria)
Producer: Ingrid de Beer
Directors: Shofela Coker, Nadia Darries
Red Sea Film Fund Award of $5,000
Golden (Zimbabwe)
Producers: Rumbi Katedza, Ingrid Martens
Director: Rumbi Katedza
Red Sea Film Fund Award of $5,000
The Second Coming (South Africa)
Producer: Siyabonga Xaba
Director: Michael James
Red Sea Film Fund Award of $5,000
Climbing the Mountains (Algeria)
Producers: Kenji Accard, Sabrina Chebbi
Co-producer: Oualid Baha
Director: Sabrina Chebbi
Al Jazeera Co-Production Award of $10,000
Climbing the Mountains (Algeria)
Producers: Kenji Accard, Sabrina Chebbi
Co-producer: Oualid Baha
Director: Sabrina Chebbi
Climate Story Labs Award of $10,000
This award is sponsored by Climate Story Labs Africa and Doc Society, in collaboration with UMI Fund.
Plastic Atlantis (Cape Verde)
Producer: Pedro Soulé
Director: Samira Vera-Cruz
Inkaba Award (Stained Glass TV) – $5,000 and consulting time
Inkaba means “navel” or “origin,” symbolizing the birthplace of stories — a perfect representation for pioneering new works seeking financing and co-production support.
The Second Coming (South Africa)
Producer: Siyabonga Xaba
Director: Michael James
CANAL+ Development Grant of €5,000 with a development contract
Golden (Zimbabwe)
Producers: Rumbi Katedza, Ingrid Martens
Director: Rumbi Katedza
TRT Award of $5,000
The Guardian (Libya, Algeria, Canada)
Producer: Lynda Belkhiria
Director: Muhannad Lamin
MTN Group Digital Award of R100,000
Nomvula (She Who Brings the Rain) (South Africa)
Producer: Kethiwe Ngcobo
Director: Sibusiso Khuzwayo
Sundance Institute Documentary Fund New Voices Award of $5,000 grant
Plastic Atlantis (Cape Verde)
Producer: Pedro Soulé
Director: Samira Vera-Cruz
The Whickers Bursary Award of £3,000 for a first-time feature documentary director
Vuka (South Africa)
Producer: Rehad Desai
Director: Matthew Robinson
OIF-ACP-EU Award of €2,500
Plastic Atlantis (Cape Verde)
Producer: Pedro Soulé
Director: Samira Vera-Cruz
Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Award of 2,000 CAD
Climbing the Mountains (Algeria)
Producers: Kenji Accard, Sabrina Chebbi
Co-producer: Oualid Baha
Director: Sabrina Chebbi
Wrapped Talents Durban Prize of R10,000 cash prize; One-year Premium Subscription to Wrapped; and Featured spotlight on Wrapped
TRUCKER MAN (South Africa)
Director: Shiefaa Hendricks
Market/Event Participation Awards include:
DFM Talents Durban Award
Flights and accommodation to participate in DFM Pitch and Finance Forum 2026.
DESIGNING DIVIDE (South Africa)
Director: Jessie Ayles
Sørfond Award
Flights and accommodation to participate in the Sørfond Pitch 2025.
Baptism of Silence (South Africa)
Producer: Casey Diepeveen
Directors: Kanya Viljoen, Emilie Badenhorst
El Gouna Film Festival Award
Flights and accommodation for participation in CineGouna 2025.
Samaa Gafa (Dry Sky) (Sudan)
Producer: Aya Tallah Yusuf
Director: Ibrahim Omar
The FIDADOC Award
Flights and accommodation for participation in the FIDADOC Pan African Writing Residency 2026.
KUMFOGA (Togo)
Director: Dissirama Bessoga
Rotterdam Lab Award
Accreditation and accommodation for participation in the Rotterdam Lab 2026.
Space Maasai (Tanzania)
Producer: Wilson Nkya
Director: Priscilla Marealle
Animation Production Days (APD) Award
Accreditation and accommodation for participation in Animation Production Days 2026.
Tribe (South Africa)
Producer: Debbie Crosscup
Director: Tendayi Nyeke
Visions du Reel Award
Accreditation and accommodation for participation in the Visions du Reel Market 2026 (presentation in the Marketplace Pitching/Roundtables / One-on-One Meetings).
Akal (Morocco)
Producer: Karim Debbagh
Director: Basma Rkioui
Sheffield Doc Fest Award
Accreditation and accommodation for participation in Sheffield Doc Fest 2026.
Plastic Atlantis (Cape Verde)
Producer: Pedro Soulé
Director: Samira Vera-Cruz
The DOK Leipzig Award
Accreditation and accommodation for participation in DOK Leipzig 2025.
Akal (Morocco)
Producer: Karim Debbagh
Director: Basma Rkioui
DOK.fest München Award
Accreditation and accommodation to participate in the DOK.forum Marketplace 2026 (DOK Co-Pro Market or in DOK Preview Training).
Golden (Zimbabwe)
Producers: Rumbi Katedza, Ingrid Martens
Director: Rumbi Katedza
Category – Mentorship, Distribution and Membership:
MAD Solutions Award
Sales and distribution support for one project in the Arab world. The award was presented to a project from the Palestine Film Institute Spotlight at DFM 2025.
Ping Pong (Palestine)
Producer: May Jabareen
Director: Saleh Saadi
Doc A Award
Consultation, training, and an impact campaign grant.
Plastic Atlantis (Cape Verde)
Producer: Pedro Soulé
Director: Samira Vera-Cruz
EURODOC Award
Tuition and residential fees for one session in Euro Doc 2026 along with a 12-month membership.
The Salt of the South (Tunisia)
Producer: Ramzi Laâmouri
Director: Rami Jarboui
Fak’ugesi Residency Award
Participation in the Residency Programme.
Kamaroza (Egypt)
Producer: Nouran Abdallah
Directors: Ahmad Abdelhameed, Islam Mazhar
Studio: Samaka
TFL Next IEFTA Award (supported by IEFTA)
Invitation to Film online workshop in 2025.
Nomvula (She Who Brings the Rain) (South Africa)
Producer: Kethiwe Ngcobo
Director: Sibusiso Khuzwayo
Women Make Movies Award
Best Pitch by a Woman Filmmaker, along with acceptance into the Production Assistance Program which includes various benefits like fiscal sponsorship, customized fundraising, ongoing project consultations, and more.
Plastic Atlantis (Cape Verde)
Producer: Pedro Soulé
Director: Samira Vera-Cruz
Impronta Films Consultancy Award
Award offering up to 4 consultancy sessions over 12 months for two documentary projects in development.
Planet Carnival (South Africa)
Producers: Thandi Davids
Co-producer: Luana Rocha
Director: Kurt Orderson
Vuka (South Africa)
Producer: Rehad Desai
Director: Matthew Robinson
Triggerfish Mentorship Award
A six-month mentorship including one-on-one sessions covering all aspects of development, production, and marketing for the selected project.
Aisha Qandicha (Morocco)
Producer: Alyssa Harden
Director: Fatima Mahdar
Isiziba Award (Stained Glass TV)
40 hours of executive development and consultancy for a Talents Durban Story Junction participant.
Isiziba, meaning “a still and sacred water source,” represents the quiet depth and potential of emerging talent.
Watching Over You (South Africa)
Director: Stephen Nagel
Talent Press Award Supported by FIPRESCI
One-year membership to FIPRESCI.
Alice Johnson (Ghana)
Wrapped Talent Press Prize
Press and publicity support.
Tshi Malatji (South Africa)
