The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) is set to highlight animation programming at the 16th edition of the Durban FilmMart (DFM) holding from July18 to 21, 2025. The 2025 DFM animation focus is highlighted through the official projects pitching in the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum, the various partners engaging in discussions exploring animation’s sustainability, diversity, and technical excellence and the animation experts addressing critical issues facing African animation studios and creators. Complementing the Animation at DFM programme stream is a special partnership with the Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF), in which Durban will be one of the host cities of the festival’s travelling showcase. The three-city tour kicks off in Cape Town on July 2, heads to Durban on July 20, and wraps up in Johannesburg on August 23. Leading the industry conversations on independent studio sustainability, Francis Y. Brown (AnimaxFYB Studios); Avuzwa Ntshongwana (Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct); Hamid Ibrahim (Kugali) and Claye Edou (Cledley Productions) explore practical strategies for maintaining creative and financial viability in competitive markets, in the session, How Can Smaller Animation Studios Remain Sustainable? The panel discussion, Expanding the Frame – Building Bridges for Gender Inclusivity in Animation, presented in partnership with Triggerfish and UNESCO, takes a critical look at the animation industry and its inclusion of women, femmes and queer identifying individuals and asks what still needs to be done to amplify these voices and create a more equitable industry. Unpacking this discussion are Kumbi Chitenderu (Triggerfish), Nadia Darries (Goon Valley), Tshepo Moche (PlayNice), Tracey-Lee Rainers (Story Oasis), Vanessa Ann Sinden (Triggerfish), and Caroline Vos (Triggerfish), moderated by Anthony Silverston. Building on DFM’s tradition of world-class masterclasses, Sébastien Onomo of Special Touch Studios, Bruno Felix, the founder of Submarine and Isaac Mogajane, co-founder of Diprente Films will lead two masterclasses in which they explore the global landscape of animated content production. These sessions provide essential networking opportunities for animation professionals, fostering connections that strengthen the African animation ecosystem while building bridges to international markets and collaborators. For inquiries: [email protected]

FRESH from its successful run at the 32nd African Film Festival New York, and at the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF), Chicago, USA, which held between June 13 and 15, the feature film, The Man Died, Inspired by the prison notes of Africa’s first Nobel laureate in literature, Wole Soyinka, heads to Europe, where it has been elected a “star attraction” at the 2025 African Theatre Association (AfTA) yearly conference holding in Stuttgart, Germany in July. It is also being considered for special screenings at educational institutions in Florence, Italy; Abu Dhabi in the UAE; at New York University, Harvard University, and at Ithaca College, all in the USA; at Oxford University, in the United Kingdom; as well as at the House of World Culture in Berlin, Germany, among others. This is as it is also being reviewed by at least three major global streaming platforms, and international distribution channels. Though yet to be officially released to the market, The Man Died, since its ‘special-premiere’ in July 2024 in Lagos to mark the Nobel laureate dramatist, poet, essayist and human/civil rights activist, Soyinka’s 90th birthday, has had a series of home runs including on October 5 at the Quramo Festival of Words, QFest 2024, Lagos; Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF and at the African Int’l Film Festival, AFRIFF, Lagos. It began its global tour in London in July 2024 as part of the Nobel laureate’s 90th celebration jointly organised and hosted by the Africa Centre and the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, WSICE. It returned to same London in October as part of the Africa Film Festival at Richmix; and also had an educational screening at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. It was at the Carthage Int’l film Festival, Tunis, December 14-21; and Luxor African Film Festival, Luxor, Egypt, January 7-16. It has won awards at most of the festival, including Best Scriptwriting Award – AFRIFF, Nov. 5 to 9; Best Audience Choice Award – ENIFF, Nov 27 to 29; and Best Film That Tackles an Important African Issue’ — Luxor Int’l Film Festival, Jan.9-14. It also crowned the director Awam Amkpa as Best Director at the continent’s most prestigious film and television award project, African Magic Viewers Choice Award AMVCA in May 2025.

THE National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has endorsed the upcoming 8th Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) scheduled to hold from August 26 to 30, 2025 with the theme, ‘Film for social change’. The endorsement was made during the visit of the Executive Director Kaduna International Film Festival and Vice Chairman, Nigerian Film Festivals Association, Audu Kashim Israel, recently. Director General of the NCAC, Mr. Obi Asika, applauded Audu for the great work he is doing in northern Nigeria with the Kaduna International Film Festival. KADIFF is a yearly event that celebrates film and culture, showcasing the art of cinema and promoting cultural understanding.

It features film screenings, masterclasses, exhibitions, workshops, and seminars, and includes an awards ceremony. The festival aims to provide a platform for filmmakers, foster collaboration, and contribute to the appreciation of diverse film cultures. Additional information on the festival can be sources at www.kadunafilmfestival.com