Durban FilmMart Announces Partnership with FIPRESCI and CIFF

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced two partnerships in its bid to expand opportunities for filmmakers, film critics, and industry professionals. This strategic international partnership aims to support talent development, industry access, and cross-border collaboration.

At the Egyptian Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival, a new collaboration between the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Durban FilmMart Institute was announced during FIPRESCI’s annual reception.

The partnership will see FIPRESCI select an outstanding participant from the Talents Durban Press programme at Durban FilmMart 2026 to receive an award presented by CIFF. The selected critic will be invited to attend the Cairo International Film Festival, cover the festival’s activities and contribute to its English-language daily publication.

The initiative represents an important step in strengthening film criticism across the African continent and creating greater opportunities for emerging critical voices to engage with international film culture and discourse.

Managed by DFMI since 2019, the Talents Durban forms part of the global Berlinale Talents network and supports emerging African filmmakers and critics through mentorship, skills development, and industry engagement. The Talent Press stream provides a dedicated platform for developing film criticism and nurturing the next generation of African film journalists and critics.

The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) has also announced the projects selected for its 2026 Showcase at Durban FilmMart, marking the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between the two organisations. Four Palestinian feature films currently in development will be presented to international producers, festival programmers, funders, and industry representatives attending Durban FilmMart 2026.

The Showcase forms part of PFI’s broader mission to develop, promote and preserve Palestinian cinema while creating sustainable international opportunities for Palestinian filmmakers and producers. Through direct engagement with key industry decision-makers, participating teams are able to build partnerships, advance projects and explore pathways towards production, financing and international circulation.

PFI’s international showcases remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen the visibility and sustainability of Palestinian cinema. By facilitating meaningful industry encounters, the initiative creates opportunities not only for individual projects but also for the long-term growth and recognition of Palestinian storytelling on the global stage.

The ongoing partnership between the DFMI and the PFI reflects a shared commitment to creating platforms for underrepresented voices, supporting diverse narratives and fostering meaningful industry connections across regions.

The selected projects include Assia Boundaoui’s WITHIN SIGHT AND SOUND, Mahmoud Abu Ghalwa’s What the Sand Remembers, Fitnat Waked’s On The Sea Road, and Raji Al Jaru, Sa’ed Al Jaru, and Ash Moniz’s Echo from the Unsung.

These announcements reinforce Durban FilmMart’s role as a platform where talent development, industry access and international collaboration intersect. By connecting filmmakers and critics with global networks and opportunities, DFMI continues to contribute to the growth of a more inclusive and interconnected screen industry.

As Durban FilmMart 2026 approaches, these partnerships underscore the importance of building sustainable creative ecosystems that support storytellers, critics and industry professionals from Africa and across the Global South. Additionally, this initiative will further advance support for emerging African film critics and Palestinian filmmakers engaging with the international marketplace.