The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced the participants of the 10th edition of Talents Durban and Talent Press.

An initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, Talents Durban, a five-day development programme presented in co-operation with Berlinale Talents, is made up of workshops and seminars for African filmmakers, delivered by film industry professionals and academics.

Talent Press is presented in cooperation with Fipresci, an association of national organisations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world, which lobbies for the promotion and development of film culture.

However, after a rigorous selection process, 30 filmmakers and critics from 19 countries across the continent made the cut. Among them is Wilfred Okiche, a young medical practitioner with a passion for music and film criticism, who writes a weekly review column in The Sun.                  

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Others are Alaa Abdelrazek (Egypt), Angela Wamai (Kenya), Belinda Yanga (Nigeria), Djia Mambu Nlandu (Democratic Republic of Congo), Charles Mawungwa (Zimbabwe), Christopher Sinclair Kets (South Africa), Clare Louis (South Africa), Domoina Marina Ratsarahaingotiana (Madagascar), Gloria Huwiler (Zambia), Gnignipoutya Cyrielle (Cameroon), Harto Macharia (Kenya), Imran Hamdulay  (South Africa), Jihene Ayari (Tunisia), Jordan Ndawula (Uganda), Lemohang Mosese (Lesotho), Llewellyn James Rice (South Africa), Marie Laurentine Bayala (Burkina Faso), Mario Fradique Bastos (Angola), Mia Cilliers (South Africa), Mohamed Aly (Egypt), Mohamed Suliman (Sudan), Moreetsi Gabang (Botswana), Nthabiseng Nontsikelelo Mosieane (South Africa), Rama Thiaw (Senegal), Selaelo Maabela (South Africa), Samantha Nell (South Africa), Samuel Joseph Akiwumi (Ghana), Thembelihle Masache (South Africa),  and Yassine El Idrissi (Morocco).

Presented under the theme Perspective: Seeing Things Differently, the 10th Talents Durban aims to boost the already rising flow of contemporary filmmaking in Africa, and to encourage filmmakers on the continent to share their stories through the lens of their own particular culture.

Participants will interact with over 600 delegates from DIFF and Durban FilmMart, the co-production and finance forum, which takes place from July 14-18 during the festival. The Talents will also get to be part of several project-oriented, hands-on skills development programmes.