South Africa’s film industry will take centre stage at the 17th Durban FilmMart (DFM) as leading industry organisations, guilds and creative professionals come together to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the local audiovisual sector.
Taking place from 9 to 12 October 2026 under the theme “Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves,” the Durban FilmMart will feature its dedicated “SA in Focus” programme, bringing together voices from across the country’s film and television ecosystem.
The programme will explore issues ranging from artificial intelligence and copyright to funding, distribution, representation, intellectual property and the sustainability of South Africa’s creative industries.
Durban FilmMart Institute Director Magdalene Reddy said the local industry is facing significant challenges, making honest conversations and stronger collaboration essential.
“Answers begin at home: it begins in the strength of our guilds, the ability of our practitioners to pivot, and our willingness to have honest conversations about what needs to change,” Reddy said.
Industry bodies tackle AI, funding and transformation
Among the organisations featured is Animation SA, which will examine the impact of streaming algorithms, consolidation and generative AI on animation and gaming, while exploring new approaches to marketing, distribution and community development.
The Documentary Filmmakers Association will consider how nonfiction storytelling is evolving in an increasingly fast-moving digital environment, while the Writers Guild of South Africa will tackle one of the industry’s most pressing questions with “Writers vs the Machine” — a discussion around AI, authorship, creativity and copyright.
The South African Guild of Editors will make the case for involving editors earlier in the filmmaking process, arguing that stronger collaboration during development can ultimately lead to better productions.
Meanwhile, the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective will address funding uncertainty and delayed incentive payments in “The System Is Broken. Let’s Fix It.”
The Independent Producers Organisation will focus on the Olsberg SPI Economic Study, examining how its findings could influence the future growth, sustainability and development of South Africa’s film and television industry.
Actors, women and IP ownership in focus
The South African Guild of Actors will explore the possibility of performers becoming co-creators and sharing more meaningfully in intellectual property they help originate.
Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT) will also bring women’s voices to the forefront, focusing on greater representation within industry organisations, policy discussions and decision-making structures.
The programme will additionally feature South African policymakers, with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s newly established South African Audio-Visual Cluster and Pixel Creators (Animation and Gaming Cluster) set to make their first appearance at DFM.
Their participation further positions the FilmMart as an important platform for dialogue between government, industry bodies and creative professionals.
Building a stronger local industry
The 2026 programme reflects a broader push to strengthen South Africa’s audiovisual sector from within, while creating opportunities for local filmmakers to connect with the wider African and international market.
With panel discussions, masterclasses, pitch forums and networking opportunities, DFM 2026 aims to create space for the industry to confront its challenges while identifying practical opportunities for growth.
The 17th Durban FilmMart runs from 9–12 October 2026 in Durban.
Main Image: Supplied
