The Fund offers valuable resources to support professional development. Each year, up to five funded projects are invited to participate in a year-long mentorship program with dedicated international mentors, as well as receiving funding.

At a media briefing earlier today at Maharani Hotel, recently appointed Festival Manager, Chipo Zhou, was thrilled to introduce stakeholders to the programme including screenings across the city and surrounding townships, the training workshops, and opening and closing films for the fest.

With the thematic focus of “Women Led Film - Disrupting the Status Quo”, the DFM and DIFF, together with the Durban Film Office, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the lobby and advocacy organization Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT), and international partner CaribbeanTales Media Group, will be focusing on the role of women in the industry. The programme will present a number of workshops, roundtables and panel discussions with leading women in film.