In support of Africa’s growing animation industry, the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has issued a call for animation projects to showcase at its 16th annual pitching and financing forum, which will be held in Durban, South Africa in July 2025.

Animators from across Africa with projects in development from any genre and for any age group are eligible to apply. They can be series or feature-length films, but at least one key producer, writer or director must be an African citizen or have an African passport.

Full eligibility and application details are available online, and the application window will close on October 27. Submissions will be evaluated in November and December, with a shortlist of roughly eight projects selected to present to a panel of potential co-producers, broadcasters, film funding bodies and distributors at next year’s DFMI market.

To help prepare for their live pitches, finalists will also be invited to participate in an online mentorship program consisting of a series of master classes led by global industry experts.

The African animation market was valued at US$13.3 billion in 2023 and is forecast to hit US$18 billion by 2032, according to consulting firm IMARC Group. “[It’s] flourishing, and the DFMI is proud to be contributing to this growth,” says Magdalene Reddy, director of the non-profit organization that was established in 2020 to promote, support and facilitate local and international trade and investment in African film content.

Pictured: 2023 selection Boy Boi (Kenya) from producers Shadrack Munene and J. Njogu Macharia and director J. Njogu Macharia.