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All set for the Durban FilmMart Institute festival
Kenyan film critic Gloria Nkatha.
Arrangements are in full gear for a major celebration and promotion of filmmaking in South Africa. This year’s Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) 18th event will be held in Durban from July 18 to 21.
According to the organisers, the African satellite programme of the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban holds a significant position within the DFMI's programming.
Those expected to feature at the event include Kenyan film critic Gloria Nkatha, whose work amplifies African cinema through sharp insights and a cultural context. She is the voice and ink behind Talk Film to Me, a platform for film reviews and filmmaker interviews. Speaking to the Saturday Nation earlier this week, Gloria expressed her appreciation to the organisers for inviting her to participate in the event.
Others expected to take part in the Talent Press section include Tshi Malatji (South Africa), Alice Johnson (Ghana), Riley Hlatshwayo (South Africa) and Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rehim (Egypt). There will be fiction features such as The Most High by Samuel Kizito (Uganda), No Man's Land, by Sean Mongie (South Africa), and Menelik III, by Hassan Zaroug (Rwanda/Sudan).
Talents Durban provides a platform specifically tailored to the continent's unique filmmaking landscape.
"The calibre and diversity of applications this year reflect the growing vibrancy of African storytelling,” says DFMI Director Magdalene Reddy. “This year's cohort demonstrates remarkable innovation in form and content, with projects that naturally embody our theme of building bridges." Throughout the intensive four-day in-person programme and the two-month online engagement, she explains, "the emerging talents will not only develop their technical skills, but also forge lasting connections with industry professionals and fellow creators from across the continent – connections that will sustain African cinema's growth for years to come".
This edition of Talents Durban includes participants from 18 African countries, who collectively reflect the continent's diversity of emerging film professionals. The selection was highly competitive, with over 500 applications resulting in the choice of 26 distinctive projects and five film critics, each bringing a fresh perspective to features, documentaries, shorts, series, animation, and film criticism.
Legendary Benga musician Daniel Owino (DO) Misiani.
Elsewhere, Benga music fans will today mark the 19th anniversary of the death of the legendary singer, composer and band leader Daniel Owino (DO) Misiani.
Misiani also groomed many other Benga musicians, including Linet Aluoch Pamba, the leader of Karapul Jazz Band.
Kisumu-based benga musician Linet Aluoch Pamba.
Meanwhile, The Ball Point Social Club at the Village Market in Nairobi, will today host the Village Market Junior Chess Workshop. It starts at 10am and ends at 1pm.
At the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium, Kasarani in Nairobi, lined up today will be the RX-Fest Motorsport dubbed “Head to Head Races”. There will be food, drinks, music and entertainment at the Children’s Play area. Entrance is Sh500 (single day ticket) and Sh750 (weekend pass ticket). Event starts at 7am and ends later in the evening.
