January 2025 · Durban Film Office
The 2025 edition of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) once again brought together filmmakers, distributors, and audiences from across the African continent and beyond, cementing Durban's place as a vital hub for African cinema.
Festival Highlights
This year's programme featured over 150 films from 40 countries, spanning feature narratives, documentaries, and short film showcases. Several Durban-shot productions premiered at the festival, drawing strong local and international press attention.
Durban FilmMart
Running alongside DIFF, the Durban FilmMart continued to grow as one of the continent's leading co-production and finance markets. Over 40 African film and TV projects were pitched to a room of international funders, broadcasters and distributors — a record turnout for the market.
Industry Workshops
The festival also hosted a series of co-production labs, scriptwriting masterclasses and panel discussions focused on building sustainable career pathways for emerging filmmakers in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Durban Film Office was proud to support this year's festival as a key local partner. For more on how DFO works alongside DIFF and the Durban FilmMart, visit our About page.