This July, members of the LBx team headed down to Durban for the 16th edition of the Durban FilmMart, Africa’s leading co-production and film finance market. Held under the theme “Bridges Not Borders: Stories that Unite,” the four-day gathering brought together filmmakers, funders, and changemakers from across the continent and beyond.

LBx Africa Producer Juliana Kabua and director Millan Tarus were in Durban to pitch their upcoming feature film Stero, selected as one of 31 standout projects in this year’s DFM Pitch & Finance Forum. Ahead of the event, they were part of a dedicated mentorship programme facilitated by Durban FilmMart itself, designed to help filmmakers sharpen their pitches and strategies.

The film also continues to grow from other development spaces like the Creative Producer Indaba. We’re incredibly proud to see Stero moving forward with such strong support.

Chloe Genga, our Head of Impact and Distribution, also attended DFM with support from GIZ-Kenya to deepen networks across Africa’s distribution and outreach space. It was a great opportunity for us to learn from, and contribute to, evolving conversations around audience engagement, access, and sustainable approaches on the continent. 

Sam Soko, LBx co-founder and Head of Studio, took part in two key sessions at DFM. As part of the “Durban Does Docs” stream, he joined important conversations on impact-driven distribution and mental health in documentary filmmaking, two areas that remain close to our hearts. From crafting strategies for meaningful change to recognizing the toll of personal storytelling, these discussions reminded us why community and care matter so deeply in the work we do.