The 7th Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s premier film finance and co-production forum has announced its full program for this year’s edition, which takes place at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel from June 17 to 20 during the Durban International Film Festival.

This year’s objective is to stimulate the development of project collaboration between African filmmakers in order to inspire the creation of film on the continent and increase the visibility of African cinema on a global platform.

This year’s DFM industry development program has a strong focus on story development, the essential starting point for any film, and so a number of sessions will delve into topics that will address the subject of “What is an African story and how to sell these African stories.”

South African filmmakers Junaid Ahmed and Akin Omotoso will share their experiences of developing their latest films – “Happiness is a Four Letter Word” and “Tell Me Sweet Something” respectively.

UK-based Selina Ukwuoma, a script consultant will present a masterclass on storytelling.

South African author and entrepreneur, GG Alcock, will present an unusual Masterclass under the banner of “Authenticity is Key – Building Credibility with Audiences,” where he will talk about the vital necessity of engaging with an audience on their own terms through an authentic understanding of local narratives.

Then the Business Model Canvas Program based on Alex Osterwalder’s book “Business Model Generationm” will demystify the business model design for film.

Another key highlight of this year’s industry program,“Packaging for the US Market,” with Hollywood producer-director Jeff Byrd, a protégé of Spike Lee (Byrd worked on “Mo’Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever” and “Malcolm X with Lee”). Byrd is joined by well-known SA Producer Themba Sibeko, Managing Director of Ziya Pictures, who has over 25 years of experience in film, television and video, and has worked with the likes of Bill Duke, Danny Glover, Ruby Dee, and Isaac Hayes, to name a few.

A hot topic at the moment for filmmakers is the subject of Virtual Reality and how this will play out in the film space. Leading a workshop on this topic is Ingrid Kopp who is Director of Digital Initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute in New York City, where she overseas the TFI New Media Fund, and leads the Institute’s digital and interactive programs including TFI Interactive and the national Tribeca Hacks hackathon program.

Todd Brown, founder of the international film website TwitchFilm.com, and director of international programming at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, USA, will present a masterclass on “Using Short Films to Build Brand and Audience.”

Other workshops and masterclasses include “Video on Demand – How Filmmakers can access this New Distribution Stream,” “Where Social Media and Marketing Meet,” “New Strategies for Financing Independent Film,” “Presales Agreements: Creating value for your investors,” “Talking Through Completion Bonds with Film Finances SA,” “Building Relationships, Building Stories: What to expect and what you get in the editor/director collaboration” with SA Guild of Editors, and “How to Pitch and Not Fall Flat on Your Face” with Restless Talent.

Round table discussions will include “Finding the Right Partner for Film” with industry professionals and “Window to the World” with international festivals and markets to enable delegates to grow and establish their networks across the continent and further afield.

The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa will present a number of sessions, including “Financing Film through Distribution” and “Marketing and Co-Production with Netherlands.”

“We are really pleased with the program for this year’s DFM,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office which partners with the DIFF to present the DFM. “The topics and speakers are all on point in terms of what is happening in the industry on a global level and we look forward to hosting delegates for an exciting four day program, networking, negotiating and film loving!”

Partners and supporters of this year’s DFM include AfriDocs, Berlin Talents Campus, Business Model Canvas, Callsheet, CineMart, Documentary Filmmakers Association, DTI, Durban Tourism, Dutch Film Fund, Film Finances SA, Film and Publications Board, French Embassy, German Embassy, Goethe-Institut, Hot docs Blue Ice Fund, Institut Francais, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, KUMISA, KZN Film Commission, Mnet, National Film and Video Foundation, Opdocs, OIF, Produire au Sud, Restless Talent Management, SABC, SAGE, Screen Africa, Sonoton, Sørfond, Sundance Institute, Talents Durban, Tsogo Sun, Tribeca Institute, Versfeld & Associates, Variety and VideoVision Entertainment.

For registration or for more information view the delegate registration process online at the official website – www.durbanfilmmart.co.za.

Early Bird registration closes on 30 May 2016.