The business of film is not just a cultural pursuit for artists and auteurs – it is big business. In 2021, the National Film and Video Foundation projected that the film industry would contribute R7,18 billion to the local economy.
It is not an industry to be entered into lightly. Traditional models of film financing, producing, marketing and distributing, and revenue collection have been radically redefined with the emergence of streaming services and social media content creators. This has lowered the barriers to entry, opened the market to new players and spurned a second growth cycle through increased innovation. As traditional production studios compete against content creators for audience attention, the market is open for innovative approaches to film financing, production and distribution.
Fuelling this opportunity is a global demand for African content. As Africans in the diaspora become both more economically stable, and more homesick, there is an increasing call for authentic African stories from an audience able and willing to pay.
This creates lucrative opportunities for businesses outside the traditional film industry to explore ways to enter the sector.The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is the perfect entry point to those who are considering opportunities in film finance and production. As the economic heartbeat of the African film industry, it is where the business of film is explored and evolved.
For fifteen years, DFM has created substantial opportunities for financiers and producers to connect, converse – and ultimately contract. The market showcases African filmmaking talent and provides opportunities for the development and global integration of African film professionals.
In 2023, DFM attracted participants from 43 countries, with an audience of 4,092 over 4 days – the largest gathering of film professionals on the African continent. 2024 is well positioned to exceed this.
DFM’s 2024 edition, “African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability,” takes place in Durban from 19 – 22 July 2024. A range of high-powered panellists will explore vital issues like social accountability, intellectual property rights, equality in the workplace, and environmental concerns related to film production.
Early Bird registration for participation is now open until 31 May. For more information and to register, visit: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/
About the Durban FilmMart Institute:
The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the eThekwini Municipality. For further inquiries, contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com
Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where film professionals and content are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry.
