Nigerian documentary Mi Tazi, directed by Blessing Bulus, has been selected for the student competition at the 47th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), joining 11 other emerging filmmakers from South Africa, South Korea, Morocco, Spain, Iran and Uruguay. The festival is scheduled to take place from July 23 – August 2, 2026.
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Written, directed, and produced by Blessing Bulus with co-production from Precious Iroagalachi (In Her Shoes), cinematography by Da’anong Gyang (Finding Nina) and support from StoryMi Academy, Mi Tazi is loosely based on Bulus’ life as a young artist who returns to her ancestral home in Nok, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, haunted by the fear of forgetting her late father. Guided by her grandfather and featuring Luke Gyunom, the documentary uncovers how they once used sculpting with clay as a means to preserve memory and how that memory doesn’t just disappear but evolves with time.
Blessing Bulus was part of StoryMi Academy’s 2025 Documentary Filmmaking Workshop where she trained with Christopher Wonder Osarien, Olayinka Eno Babalola, Faith Okoh, and Isaac Ayodele under the mentorship of facilitators like Sophie Bouillon, Joel ‘Kachi’ Benson, and Ike Nnaebue.
StoryMi Academy’s training and mentorship programmes have supported Nigerian documentary filmmakers gaining recognition on the international festival circuit. One of its most notable success stories is 2024 fellow Shedrack Salami, whose documentary Beyond Olympic Glory, developed through the StoryMi Academy Documentary Film Fellowship, has screened across Africa, Europe, and North America, earning multiple awards including 2026 AMVCA Best Documentary, Best Documentary Film at The Annual Film Mischief and one of WKMUp’s Best Films of 2025.
Mi Tazi will screen among a mix slate of emerging voices showcased by DIFF’s student programme, a section designed to spotlight the next generation of filmmakers from across the world.
“The student line-up offers an unfiltered, fiercely passionate look at where global cinema is heading,” said DIFF Festival Manager Sakhile Gumede in a statement. “These emerging directors are tackling complex familial, societal, and psychological landscapes with striking artistic confidence. DIFF is proud to provide them a world-class platform to showcase their vision alongside industry veterans.”
All selected titles will compete for the festival’s Best Student Film award.
DIFF’s industry programme will also feature masterclasses, networking opportunities, and development initiatives aimed at helping emerging filmmakers transition from film school into the global film industry.
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