DFMI Opens Call for Applications: Future Mentors Programme 2026

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) is inviting applications for the next edition of the Future Mentors Programme to be held in East Africa with the support of the Fund for Authors and Producers from Africa (FAPA) and will take place in Nairobi from 1 to 5 February 2027. 

The Future Mentors Programme was initiated to address the scarcity of mentors originating from the African continent and diaspora, while simultaneously equipping the next wave of mentors in Africa with the essential skills they need. Its purpose is to support a capacity-building programme for seasoned film professionals who possess a genuine desire to share their expertise with aspiring film practitioners. 

Having successfully completed its inaugural edition in South Africa (2024) and expanded to fourteen African labs at FESPACO in Ouagadougou (2025), the implementation of its second and third editions in French speaking West Africa (Dakar, Senegal) and in Arabic speaking North Africa (Tunis, Tunisia) (2025), the programme is now poised for its next edition in East Africa with implementing partner, Docubox.

According to Magdalene Reddy, Director of Durban FilmMart Institute, when the Future Mentors Programme, the intent was beyond training individuals but building a pipeline of African mentors who can carry the work of raising a new generation of filmmakers forward themselves. “As we move our focus to East Africa, we acknowledge that there is already a deep reservoir of experienced producers and story consultants, and we look forward to seeing them take up the mentoring space. Our thanks go to the FAPA partners and Docubox for working with us to make this edition possible,” she stated. 

Applicants for The Future Mentors Programme are expected to be producers and creative producers with African passports from the following East African countries Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Uganda, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan and Tanzania who have a desire to enter the mentorship space. 

The programme is looking for filmmakers who have experience as producers, or creative producers. Applicants should have a film credit in one of these roles on at least two feature-length films in documentary and/or fiction, have been active in the film industry for at least five years, and have attended development labs and programmes or have a history of training experience working with grass roots training programmes. The programme is open to filmmakers from across documentary, fiction and animation.

Film professionals who are interested in the programme will need to provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae with filmography, two contactable referees and two reference letters from a reputable film lab or training institute as well as a one-page letter of motivation for consideration to participate. Selected participants will need to avail themselves for 2 online introductory sessions in January and 6 physical days in Nairobi in February 2027. 

Applications close on 22nd November 2026 and selected applicants will be notified by 08 December 2026  of the outcome of their application. The programme will be conducted in English. Selected participants will receive round-trip economy air travel, hotel accommodation and daily stipends for  the duration of the physical workshop. Participants are required to arrive in Nairobi on Sunday, 31 January and depart on Saturday, 6 February. There will be 2 online sessions prior to the physical workshop, dates to be confirmed upon selection. 

The programme is supported by the Future Mentors’ Guide in English, French and Arabic  which was co-created by a group of film professionals from Africa and the diaspora. The DFMI thereafter created the Future Mentors’ Curriculum which forms the foundation of the programme.