Boost for budding filmmakers
IN A move aimed at ramping up support for the film industry in the Eastern Cape, the ECDC and the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (ECPACC) are calling on producers who wish to produce and shoot films in the province to submit proposals for feature films, short films, documentaries and series projects.
ECDC head of trade, investment and innovation Thabo Shenxane said the expression of interest closes on July 2.
“The proposals will help the Eastern Cape government determine the type of support needed by filmmakers to grow the industry and to make it profitable in the province,” he said.
Officials from the departments of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism; sport, recreation, arts and culture; and trade and industry; and the Industrial Development Corporation, National Film and Video Foundation and a film commission will help the ECDC and ECPACC select the most deserving proposals.
“To qualify for support, the proposed film projects must be shot in the Eastern Cape and 70% of the total production and development budget must be spent in the province. The expression of interest applies to South African, especially Eastern Cape-based, production companies with experience and a credible track record producing film content of international quality who have projects to be shot in the Eastern Cape.
“Application requirements include a completed application form, covering letter, proof of South African identity document and tax clearance certificate, proof of company ownership, letters of support from project investors as well as a highlevel budget and project plan,” said Shenxane.
He said the production applicants also need to submit a script outline that is ready for production which is relevant to the South African.
“Documentary applicants must also submit a research report and outline. These include South African production companies who hold exclusive rights for at least 12 months on films produced in the province and those that have produced at least three documentaries in the Eastern Cape which have been broadcast on television or released theatrically in either one hour or feature length formats,” said Shenxane.
Shenxane said the film sector was attractive in that it has spinoffs for other sectors such as tourism, accommodation, food industry, skills development, vehicle hire, general transport services and job creation.
He said also up for consideration were development projects.
“The bigger idea is to collate all selected ideas, cost them and request allocation from the provincial fiscus to create a provincial film fund which will cater for the needs of the film industry in the Eastern Cape,” he said.