African Pitch and Finance Forum Announces Lineup of Selected Animation Projects

By Iminza Keboge
Published February 20, 2025

Durban FilmMart Institute, that presents the annual DFM Pitch and Finance Forum in Durban, South Africa, has announced animation projects selected for its 16th event.

The selected projects, DFMI says, “will go through a 3-month period of training and development to ensure they are ready to meet investors in Durban.”

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The online masterclass programme will feature script development, visual representation, finance planning, project packaging, pitching and much more while the one-on-one mentorship will allow individual mentors to assist animators with project packaging and pitch preparation.

“The online animation masterclass series and one-on-one mentorship offered to projects in development is the first element of the annual programme,” DFMI says. “The aim of the masterclass programme is to prepare the selected participants to pitch in Africa’s leading film finance and co-production market. The 16th annual Durban FilmMart is scheduled to take place from 18 to 21 July, in Durban, South Africa.”

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“Over the years, we have noticed the increase in the quality of animation projects coming out of African continent. DFMI is honoured to witness the growth of the animation sector and celebrate the work that is being done by creators, both on the continent and in the diaspora. Animation@DFM is now a permanent strand of programming at the market, bringing together the worlds of animation and live action in one place creates richer conversations and deeper networks for industry,” Magdalene Reddy, Director of DFMI, says.

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The 8 selected projects are:

I). Animated fiction features:

• • • • • Aisha Qandicha
          Producer: Alyssa Harden
          Director: Fatima Mahdar
          Morocco.
        • Au nom du Roi Njoya (In The Name of King Njoya)
          Producer: Claye Edou
          Director: Claye Edou
          Cameroon.
        • Crocodile Dance
          Producer: Ingrid de Beer
          Directors: Shofela Coker, Nadia Darries
          South Africa/Nigeria.
        • Kamaroza
          Producer: Nouran Abdallah
          Directors: Ahmad Abdelhameed, Islam Mazhar
          Egypt.
        • KINTUADI: SIMON KIMBANGU
          Producer: Giresse Kassonga
          Director: Benny Lusakueno
          Democratic Republic of the Congo.
        • Tribe
          Producer: Debbie Crosscu
          Director: Tendayi Nyeke
          South Africa.

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II). Animated fiction series:

• Mboudgui
  Producer: Betty Sulty-Johnson, Lamissa Ouattara
  Director: Bienvenu Wanso-Tissala
  Cameroon /France.
• Nunu Rhu/The Girl With Wings
  Producer: Ameera Faber, Sabrina Roc
  Director: Clare Louis
  South Africa.