Joewackle J. Kusi and Alice Johnson to Represent Ghana at the 18th Talents Durban.

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced the selected participants for the 18th Edition of Talents Durban, which will take place from 18 – 21 July 2025, as part of the Durban FilmMart (DFM). This renowned platform, as the African counterpart to Berlinale Talents, continues to be an essential space for emerging filmmakers from the continent to learn, connect, and collaborate within the unique African filmmaking landscape.

Among the diverse and talented group of emerging creators for this year are two Ghanaian creatives. Joewackle J. Kusi and his documentary film project Ghana Must Go! were selected as part of the projects.

He is a Ghanaian multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker known for his bold storytelling through film, sound, and writing that explores identity, culture, and politics. His acclaimed works include Nyame Mma, a queer-themed film selected for Cannes and other global festivals, and Goodbye, Gold Coast, an audio drama on Ghana’s independence. He is a 2024 fellow of the International Sound Documentary Program in France. Joewackle also leads Church Of Stories and Reel Fellowship to champion inclusive storytelling and cinema culture in Ghana.

Joewackle Kusi

Alice Johnson was also selected for the Talent Press program, which focuses on developing the skills and knowledge of emerging film critics and journalists. The program provides mentorship and training opportunities to help them develop their ability to create insightful film coverage, including film reviews, interviews, and social media content.

Alice Johnson is a Ghanaian cultural journalist and multimedia producer committed to amplifying African and Diaspora narratives through storytelling, scholarship, and performance. She is the founder of AJ4short, a digital platform focused on African cinema and theatre, with an emphasis on precolonial histories and underrepresented voices.

Alice Johnson

A 2023 Inside Nollywood Fellow, Alice bridges stage, screen, and digital media in her work and regularly moderates conversations on film and theatre across the continent.

Magdalene Reddy, Director of DFMI, expressed her enthusiasm about the caliber of this year’s participants, noting the exceptional innovation in both form and content. “These emerging talents,” she said, “will not only develop their technical skills but also forge lasting connections that will help sustain African cinema’s growth for years to come.”

The selected Ghanaian participants will benefit from a series of hands-on skills development programs, including Story Junction, where they will present their projects to financiers and producers, alongside

masterclasses and one-on-one mentorship opportunities. These sessions will provide invaluable guidance, with mentors such as Domoina Ratsara, Francis Brown, and Mamounata Nikiemai offering their expertise.

Talents Durban continues to serve as a critical platform for African filmmakers, offering not only professional development but also a space for networking with industry professionals from across the continent and the globe.

The inclusion of talented Ghanaian filmmakers like Joewackle Kusi and Alice Johnson further highlights the ongoing contributions of Ghana to the African film industry and its potential to thrive on the world stage.

With over 500 applications and 26 projects from 16 African countries, Talents Durban promises to be an exciting and enriching experience for the selected participants.

Here is a full list of the official 2025 Talents Durban participants and projects:

Fiction Features

The Most High by Samuel Kizito (UGANDA)

MENELIK III by Hassan Zaroug (RWANDA/SUDAN)

No Man’s Land by Sean Mongie (SOUTH AFRICA)

Nuusiku by Laudika Hamutenya (NAMIBIA)

The Prophecy by Rehanna Ngom (SENEGAL)

LET THIS DAY END by Karim Berrhouma (TUNISIA)

Documentary Features

Designing Divide by Jessie Ayles (SOUTH AFRICA)

Green Island Girls by Rogena Tarek (EGYPT)

One Man’s Dream by Chisomo Kawaga (MALAWI)

Mwiba (A Thorn) by Gwantwa Lucas Mwakalinga (TANZANIA)

Ghana Must Go! by Joewackle J. Kusi (GHANA)

KUMFOGA by Dissirama BESSOGA (TOGO)

Shorts

The Soil’s Silent Smell by Melkamu Haile (ETHIOPIA)

My Chicken (Huku Yangu) by Dereck NZIYAKWI  (ZIMBABWE)

Based on Future Events: Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? by Bassma Farah Nancy (EGYPT)

DELIVERY MAN by Ani ELIAM (COTE D’IVOIRE)

Butterflies by Aghogho ‘Tega’ Onobrakpeya (NIGERIA)

Trucker Man by Shiefaa Hendricks (SOUTH AFRICA)

Series

Mad Bounty and The Midnight Gun by Talemwa Pius (UGANDA)

Guess what? by Hayat Aljowaily (EGYPT)

Watching Over You by Stephen Nagel (SOUTH AFRICA)

Survivors of Tromelin by Raissa Loussouf (MADAGASCAR)

Animation

Zein by Nermeen Salem (EGYPT)

Sisonkhe Kids Habits by Mfanelo Masuku (ESWATINI)

Akiki’s Adventures in Azania by Fatuma Abdullah (SOUTH AFRICA)

Rutu by Mary Njoroge (KENYA)

Talent Press

Gloria Nkatha (KENYA)

Tshi Malatji (SOUTH AFRICA)

Alice Johnson (GHANA)

Riley Hlatshwayo (SOUTH AFRICA)

Mohamed Sayed (EGYPT)