The Durban FilmMart Institute Appoints New Board of Directors

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has appointed a new Board of Directors ahead of its 2026 market, marking a new chapter for the organisation as it reaffirms its commitment to championing African film narratives and supporting industry professionals across the continent. The DFMI’s Board plays a central role in guiding the institution’s strategic direction, fostering sustainable growth, and advancing its mandate to facilitate local and international trade and investment in African film content.

The new DFMI Board of Directors, who took office in early 2026, comprises Ameera Faber, Mocke Jansen van Veuren, Zanele Mthembu, Masi Mtshali, Poovashnee Reddy, and Khalid Shamis, with Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri serving as Chairperson.

Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri is the CEO and founder of the Known Associates Group (KAG), which includes a below the line agency, a design studio, a film production development, and a finance company. She’s currently building a state-of-the-Art film and television Studio in the Cradle of Humankind outside Johannesburg. The newly appointed Chairperson holds key industry roles, including Co-Chair of SASFED, Deputy Chairperson of the IPO (formerly Chairperson and Treasurer), and Board Member at the Durban FilmMart Institute. She is also a leading voice in the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective (IBFC), advocating for transformation and inclusive growth across the African screen sector. 

Ameera Faber, whose career continues a three-generation family presence in storytelling, is an award-winning producer with extensive experience in transmedia campaigns. She has produced over 600 hours of television content broadcast on networks including SABC, e.tv, and Netflix, spanning documentary, factual, reality, and drama genres and reflecting a deep understanding of both African storytelling and global distribution. Faber serves as Deputy Chair of the Documentary Filmmakers’ Association and has served as a juror for the SAFTAs and the International Emmy Awards. She is also a co-founder of True Continent, an African documentary streaming platform, a co-founder of The Superhero Project NPO, and founder of Coaching for Women, which focuses on leadership development for African women.

Khalid Shamis is an editor and educator, director, and producer with over 25 years of filmmaking experience. His practice is strongly dedicated to the pedagogy of independent filmmaking and story construction in Africa, teaching, and consulting in and outside film institutions, and organised frameworks. Shamis is a regular jury member at film festivals and reads for film funds and workshops. He is on the executive board of the South African Guild of Editors (SAGE), a board member of the Durban Film Mart Institute, a member of Rough Cut Service, and a doctoral fellow at the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR) at the University of the Western Cape. Khalid is also founder and director of Rough Cut Lab Africa, RCLA, a story support programme for independent African films at the rough cut stage.

Masi Mtshali, as an attorney and Founder and Director of Mtshali & Associates Inc, specializes in intellectual property law and is a member of the Legal Practice Council, the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law, and the International Trademark Association. Mtshali assists businesses and individuals with trademark registration, copyright registration for cinematographic works, strategic advice on IP portfolios, and the protection of existing intellectual property from infringement and exploitation.

Mocke Jansen van Veuren is an experimental filmmaker, multimedia artist, educator, and PhD candidate holding the positions of Deputy Head of Department at the Wits Department of Film & Television and Vice-Chair of Animation SA. Van Veuren has been deeply involved in the creation of national standards, qualifications and curricula in film, audio-visual production and animation. He is a member of The Beehive Culture Worx, a grassroots collective that develops and runs community-based film and animation education and production programmes in Kliptown and Eldorado Park, and is currently developing an experimental animated documentary feature film with the collective.

Poovashnee Reddy is a Chartered Accountant and strategic finance and investment professional with more than 13 years’ experience across PwC South Africa, Deloitte UK, venture-backed startups, and institutional investment environments. Her expertise spans strategic finance, investor readiness, financial modelling, transaction advisory, governance, capital strategy, and financial reporting, gained through work with multinational organisations, early-stage ventures, and investment stakeholders across complex, cross-border environments. Reddy’s work centres on the intersection of finance, investment, and business growth — supporting founders, investors, and leadership teams through capital raising, investment evaluation, governance, and strategic decision-making. 

Lastly, Zanele Mthembu is Managing Director and Executive Producer at Brown Panther Films, a part-time lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology, and Acting Executive Officer at Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT). A seasoned media professional, she has 30 years’ experience in broadcasting, production, and distribution across local and international markets. Zanele contributes to industry development through her service on the South African Audio Visual Cluster Board. She has also served as a board member of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Council and as Chair of the SWIFT Board.

Established in 2020, the DFMI is a non-profit organisation that aims to be a leading hub for the African film industry, offering year-round support to film professionals, and helping build global visibility for African films and talents. Alongside its training and development initiatives, the Institute’s flagship event — Africa’s premier film finance and co-production market, the annual Durban FilmMart — enters its 17th edition this October 2026.

The new Board’s collective expertise and leadership are positioned to reinforce DFMI’s capacity to innovate, lead industry trends, and deliver resources and opportunities for filmmakers and industry professionals.