Durban FilmMart and MTN One TV Open 2026 Pitch Submissions
Durban FilmMart has partnered with MTN One TV to launch a call for submissions for their 2026 pitch session, offering experienced African producers a platform to present original film and television concepts. The collaborative initiative is geared toward developing screen projects specifically tailored for digital platforms and mobile-first viewership.
The call prioritizes content aimed at young demographics between the ages of 18 and 34, alongside wider mass-market audiences across the continent. Organizers have placed a strong geographic focus on four major African markets: South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia. In addition to these specific regions, projects carrying broad Pan-African appeal are also being considered.
Target Formats and Thematic Focus
MTN One TV is seeking commercially viable and culturally grounded stories that explore universal subject matter, including themes of family, personal ambition, identity, and resilience. Storytellers may present work across several entertainment categories, with allowable genres including drama, comedy, romance, reality television, action, and thrillers.
The submission criteria accommodate a variety of visual formats to suit emerging digital distribution models. Producers may submit limited series consisting of six to eight episodes lasting 45 to 60 minutes, as well as full scripted and unscripted series consisting of 13 episodes of the same length. The initiative is also accepting micro-drama concepts structured as 30 short installments of roughly two minutes each, in addition to standalone feature films running between 60 and 90 minutes.
The emphasis on mobile-first and serialized storytelling reflects shifting consumption habits across major creative hubs such as Lagos, Accra, and Johannesburg. For the wider entertainment and music industries, the continuous expansion of digital screen formats creates vital new opportunities for music synchronization, licensing, and audio composition tailored to short-form and mobile viewing.
Source: Afrocritik