Kenya creative industry continues to wave on global stages, with a group of six filmmakers securing prestigious awards at the Durban FilmMart 2026.
The 2026 edition under the theme “Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves” successfully brought 1,131 film professionals and filmmakers from 56 countries across the world. It had a presentation of 39 awards from 30 partners valued at $120, 938.
Among the standout winners was Ivy Kiru, who won multiple awards and grants as a producer, working alongside director Neema Ngelime. Their film “The Ones With the Tempered Flowers and Saitabao Kaiyare’s Heirs of No Regret also won an award in the film category.
Speaking at the conclusion of the event, Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI), said this year’s event extended DFM legacy.
“We are delighted to have hosted such a dynamic array of filmmakers and industry leaders in Durban. Delegates entrusted us with their projects and ideas and had honest, uncompromising conversations about alternative funding pathways,” Reddy said.
At the event, the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF) gave three awards to Best Fiction, Best Non-fiction, and Best Animation.
The Nigerian Agbajowo Collective’s (Temitope Ogungbamila, Samuel Okechukwu, Mat Cerf (Lead Producer) and Bisola Akinmuyiwa) The Boy Who Spoke Static was awarded the Best Fiction award.
Kenyan Neema Ngelime’s The Ones With the Tempered Flowers, produced by Ivy Kiru, won the Best Non-fiction grant. Minasie Terefe’s Sunday Morning produced by Nahom Abiy from Ethiopia won the Best Animation.