The 17th Durban FilmMart, taking place from October 9 to 12 in Durban, South Africa, will feature a dedicated natural-world storytelling strand courtesy of the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF). NEWF aims to support African storytellers and creators in leading natural history filmmaking while enabling communities living alongside wildlife to tell their own conservation stories. This year's event will bring together filmmakers, immersive experiences, and conversations around nature, conservation, and culture.
NEWF's presence at Durban FilmMart seeks to open up conversations around what natural-world storytelling can be and who gets to shape those narratives. According to Pragna Parsotam-Kok, Executive Director of NEWF, African voices are crucial in global conversations about the environment, nature, and wildlife. The programme encourages filmmakers who may not traditionally identify as wildlife or environmental storytellers to explore the genre.
NEWF's three Durban FilmMart sessions fall under the banner "Beyond the Wild," exploring natural-world storytelling through spiritual, technical, and thematic perspectives. One session, "Representing nature and spirituality on screen," will feature Pippa Ehrlich, Zolani Mahola, Dr. Gcina Mhlophe, and Gogo Lindi Dlamini discussing African spirituality and the relationships between nature, culture, ancestry, and identity on commercial screens.
Another session, "Getting the shot," will see NEWF Fellows Chisomo Kawaga, Nkosikhona Mthembu, Carlos Norhona, and Elshadaye Temesgen unpack the technical and creative decisions behind topside, underwater, and aerial wildlife cinematography. The session will be moderated by Nathan Rice of Untitled Entertainment.
The third panel, "Expanding stories about the natural world," will explore the breadth of natural-world storytelling across Africa. NEWF Fellows working on stories involving indigenous foodways, land restitution and conservation, human-elephant coexistence, and environmental legacy will discuss the different ways filmmakers can approach the natural world.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to experience "The NEWF Room," an interactive exhibition focused on immersive and emerging storytelling. The exhibition will feature a 360-degree VR journey, a multiplayer conservation game called Aquabots, and a pop-up macro exhibition highlighting the hidden detail of the natural world.
NEWF will also present "The Wild Side," a curated selection of short films and works-in-progress exploring nature, culture, and conservation. The programme celebrates African storytellers who are expanding the way stories about the natural world are imagined, crafted, and shared. According to Parsotam-Kok, this is about more than putting nature on screen – it's about making space for the people who live in these environments and carry their stories.
Key points
- NEWF brings African storytellers and perspectives to the 17th Durban FilmMart.
- The event features a series of panels, an interactive exhibition, and a curated selection of short films and works-in-progress.
- NEWF aims to support African storytellers and creators in leading natural history filmmaking.
