This year, Talents Durban opens submissions to 15 African writers and directors with fiction, documentary and hybrid projects in development. For the first time, the re-conceptualised initiative includes high quality projects of all media formats, such as film, television series, web series and content for mobile platforms. In order to build on sustainable networks, the call for entries is also aimed at alumni of Talents Durban who participated in any previous editions of the programme and now want to come back to work on a project.
Talents Durban will again be hosting mentorship and hands-on training for five emerging film critics. The Talent Press programme is held in partnership with The International Federation of Film Critics and the Goethe-Institut.
Talents Durban is also in a new partnership with Realness, a South African residency programme where five African screenwriters are invited for a seven-week residency to develop a new draft of their original feature screenplay. These five screenwriters will also be participating in this year’s edition of Talents Durban and benefit from the international networks of the Durban FilmMart.
Talents Durban will take place from 17 to 21 June as part of the 37th Durban International Film Festival. The overall 20 selected participants from across Africa will be given a chance to forge relationships in an intensive five day programme of one-on-one project consultation and industry networking activities with renowned mentors and professionals in the fields of production and distribution.
The 9th edition of Talents Durban runs under the motto “Degrees of Separation: Connecting People and Story’. The deadline for applications is 2 May 2016. Applications are now open on the DIFF website or the Berlinale Talents website. For more information contact (031) 260 2506 or email talentsdurban@gmail.com.
