Third EC film fest offers much
ENTREPRENEURIAL endeavour is rightfully seen as the antidote to our ailing economy. But at 0.6% provincially and 0.7% nationally in 2016, it is not growing fast enough to create much-needed job opportunities to address associated social ills.
The future seems bleak, especially for young people. In his 2017 policy speech economic development MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, stressed the need to turn “our energies towards addressing the challenges of youth unemployment”. What was required was “a dynamic and flexible policy response” to position “the Eastern Cape as the future growth hub of the country”.
The EC Information Technology Initiative (ECiti), funded by the province through Dedeat and the ECDC is one of the instruments set up to tackle underdevelopment, primarily as an information communication technology (ICT) incubator.
Survival is not easy for emerging enterprises. Moneyweb research last year found that 70- 80% of small businesses fail within five years.
Supportive ecosystems are key. Business incubators provide just that.
The Eastern Cape Film Festival illustrates the value of a business incubator. In 2015 entrepreneur Nceba Mqolomba, on behalf of his company Radio YaBantu, asked ECiti to partner in hosting the Ginsberg Film Festival.
This endeavour was in line with ECiti’s strategic objective of mobilising provincial filmmakers, not just to make films, but balance creativity with business astuteness to ensure they build profitable, lasting assets.
The ECiti/Radio YaBantu association drew support from the SABC, TruFM, resulting in a trilateral agreement. The Ginsberg Film Festival was rebranded as the Eastern Cape Film Festival, expanding the scope to filmmakers across the province. TruFM, through diligent marketing, attracted airtime sponsorship in excess of R450 000.
Joining the ECiti incubation in 2016, Radio YaBantu got support from a broader community of filmmakers provincially and nationally. Included were entrepreneurs and professionals from the EC Film Forum, an ECiti established film sector practitioners’ stakeholder body.
The EC Film Festival continues for the third year in a row, starting today and runs until December 3, with a programme bigger and better than ever. The theme, “History of filmmaking in the Eastern Cape, the emergence of the film production economy”, celebrates the industry pioneers of the 1970 era who triggered the so-called Bantu film industry in South Africa.
The festival includes the delivery of a paper by historian Sibusiso Mnyanda; workshops on applying for funding – Samora Nombuyiselo Selemagae Sekhukhune; music scoring in film - Nduduzo Makhathini; voice over artistry – Sakhile Moleshe; scriptwriting – Busisiwe Ntintili; sound for TV and film – Khoeti Morena Rustic Maile; sales and distributing film and international markets – Sifiso Khanyile; line producing and commissioning – Moloisi Nkem Mabeba; as well as industry development and skills transfer – Mariza Matshaya.
Collaboration among business entities improves products. Among the frontrunners putting this festival together was the ECiti incubated enterprise, The Moonrises Productions.
It developed content, 043 Group handled videography and photography and the EC Film Forum mobilised filmmakers in districts.
Given the incubator brand strength and developmental agenda, several government institutions mobilised to support entrepreneurial endeavours, specifically one with a far-reaching impact such as this one. The Amathole District Municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Chris Hani District Municipality Development Agency were among the first to help their filmmakers participate in the festival.
Festival benefits for delegates include: creating a platform for the broader public and entrepreneurs to connect with film media storytellers; networking with filmmakers and enthusiasts under one roof; engaging in different production economies in ideological exchange.
The EC Film Festival might not yet be a successful commercial venture for Radio YaBantu, but it has animated provincial filmmakers, creating linkages beyond the province. Meanwhile ECiti has compiled a database of filmmakers that it capacitates within the Eastern Cape Film Forum.
As a strong component of Industry 4.0 (the knowledge economy) the film production economy, once realised, has potential to help turn the fortunes of the Eastern Cape around, offering realistic entrepreneurial opportunities for our youth.
MNCEDI MGWIWI is executive manager of ECiti