Three Kenyan projects have secured a place among 36 African titles selected for the 17th Durban FilmMart, a major film finance and co-production market scheduled to take place from 9 to 12 October in Durban, South Africa. The selection highlights the continued rise of Kenyan storytelling within the broader African film industry, where competition for development platforms has become increasingly intense. The event is widely regarded as one of the most important spaces for filmmakers seeking funding, partnerships and international distribution opportunities. This year’s lineup brings together animation, fiction features, documentary features and series projects from across the continent. The inclusion of multiple Kenyan works signals growing confidence in the country’s creative sector and its ability to compete on a continental stage.
The three Kenyan projects selected include “Fisi”, a fiction series created by Mkamzee Mwatela, “capoZOOeira”, an animated series by Mary Waweru Wanjiku, and the documentary feature “Majuto si Mjukuu (Heirs of No Regret)” produced by Mumo Liku and directed by Saitabao Kaiyare. Each project represents a different storytelling format, showing the diversity of Kenya’s film development pipeline. The selection also reflects a balance between established industry professionals and emerging creative voices. These projects will now benefit from structured mentorship and exposure to international financiers and co-production partners. Their participation is expected to strengthen Kenya’s visibility within the African screen industry ecosystem.
“Fisi” is one of the most notable Kenyan selections, developed by Mkamzee Mwatela, who has built a strong reputation in television writing across several major productions. Her previous work includes contributions to “Country Queen”, Kenya’s first Netflix original series, as well as “Second Family” and “Shuga Mashariki”. She is producing “Fisi” alongside South African director Sanele Zulu, known for “Losing Lerato”, creating a cross-border creative partnership. Mwatela’s recent recognition at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for “Shuga Mashariki” further strengthens expectations around the project. The series is positioned as a key example of Kenya’s growing influence in premium scripted television development.
The second Kenyan project, “capoZOOeira”, brings together animation and international collaboration through co-production between Kenya and Brazil. The series is produced by Mary Waweru Wanjiku, co-founder of Studio M&A, a Nairobi-based animation and production company. She is working alongside Brazilian collaborator Carlos Zerpa Bravo, with Orlymar Paredes attached as director. The project reflects a growing trend of African animation studios expanding their reach through global partnerships. Its selection at Durban FilmMart places it within a competitive animation slate that includes projects from Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa.
The third Kenyan entry, “Majuto si Mjukuu (Heirs of No Regret)”, is a documentary feature produced by Mumo Liku and directed by Saitabao Kaiyare. Liku is a member of Baruu Collective and has previously worked on award-winning documentary projects such as “If Objects Could Speak” and “Unyagoni”. The film adds to Kenya’s strong showing in the documentary category, which continues to attract international attention for its storytelling depth and cultural relevance. The project is expected to benefit from mentorship sessions ahead of the pitch forum, helping refine its financing and distribution strategy. Its inclusion highlights Kenya’s growing strength in non-fiction storytelling.
Beyond Kenya, the Durban FilmMart selection brings together a wide range of projects from East, West, Central and North Africa, reflecting the continent’s expanding film ecosystem. Countries represented include Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and South Africa. The lineup includes animation series such as “Sunday Morning” from Ethiopia and fiction features like “Mother Theresa” from Rwanda and “Arbaa Shuhuor wu Ashara Ayam (Four Months and Ten Days)” from Sudan. Documentary entries such as “Children of the Nile” from Uganda and “Where Do I Belong?” from Sudan further strengthen the diversity of the selection. This mix of genres and regions reinforces the platform’s role as a central meeting point for African screen development.
Selected projects will undergo online mentorship sessions with industry experts before presenting their pitches in Durban. These sessions are designed to prepare filmmakers for meetings with potential investors, broadcasters and co-production partners. Animation projects will also benefit from additional support through the Digital Lab Africa programme, delivered in partnership with Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct. This added layer of development support reflects the growing importance of structured incubation in the film industry. It also increases the chances of selected projects moving from development to production and eventual release.
Durban FilmMart Institute Director Magdalene Reddy emphasized the cultural importance of African storytelling in shaping identity and representation. She highlighted the platform’s role in supporting filmmakers while building cross-continental networks that extend beyond the market itself. According to the institution, the selected projects represent a wide range of voices that reflect Africa’s cultural depth and creative ambition. The programme continues to position itself as a launchpad for projects that often go on to achieve international recognition. This year’s selection continues that tradition by spotlighting emerging and established filmmakers working across multiple formats.
Full list of selected projects for the 17th Durban FilmMart (2026):
ANIMATED SERIES – FICTION
Beast Seeker – South Africa
capoZOOeira – Kenya, Brazil
Hadu: The Series – Nigeria
Juju Soccer – Nigeria
Nerve – South Africa
Sunday Morning – Ethiopia
ANIMATED SHORT – FICTION
In Her Hands – Egypt
ANIMATED FEATURE-LENGTH FICTION
Midnight Metro – South Africa
FICTION FEATURES
A Touch of Paradise – Tunisia
Arbaa Shuhuor wu Ashara Ayam (Four Months and Ten Days) – Sudan
Fairway to Freedom – South Africa
Holy Cow – Morocco
Mieta – South Africa
Mother Theresa – Rwanda
Taht El Sama El Khadra (Under Green Skies) – Egypt
The Boy Who Spoke Static – Nigeria
Vino Amargo (Bitter Wine) – South Africa
Waslap – South Africa
FICTION SERIES
Again – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Daddies – South Africa
Fafi – South Africa
Fisi (Hyena) – Kenya
Smoke & Mirrors – South Africa
The Coven – South Africa
DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Children of the Nile – Uganda
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Banat Aljazira Alkhadra (Green Island’s Girls) – Egypt
Designing Divide – South Africa
Gwijo Nation – South Africa
Le Fil et Le Mur (The Thread and the Wall) – Algeria, France
Ma Nuit Du Djomele (My Djomele Night) – Burkina Faso
Majuto si Mjukuu (Heirs of No Regret) – Kenya
Mdantsane – Home of Boxing – South Africa
The Ones With The Tempered Flowers – Tanzania
Urban Zulu: The Busi Mhlongo Story – South Africa
Waiting for Evolution – South Africa
Where Do I Belong? – Sudan
The selection of Kenyan projects at the 17th Durban FilmMart reinforces the country’s growing footprint in African cinema development. It also highlights the increasing competitiveness of regional film markets where funding, mentorship and international exposure are critical to success. With projects spanning fiction, animation and documentary, Kenya’s representation reflects both creative diversity and professional maturity. As these projects move through the development pipeline, they carry expectations of stronger global visibility and potential co-production deals. The Durban FilmMart continues to serve as a key gateway for African filmmakers seeking to transform ideas into fully realized screen productions with international reach.
