Johnny Masilela The Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg will, from November 8 to 10, be the venue for the European Union/South Africa Film Symposium, a gathering poised to reposition the film industry as a significant player in the economic development of the country. Preparations for the all-important summit were unveiled at the end of a recent whistle-stop tour of several European destinations by a high-powered South African delegation. The delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Bridgette Mabandla, visited France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom, as part of preparations for the symposium. Also on the delegation to wrap up preparations for the summit were National Film and Video Foundation chair Shaun Moodley and Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Director General Themba Wakashe. Their European tour has now paved the way for the arrival of the 15 CEOs of the EU Commission from the Brussels, Belgium, headquarters.
Moodley says underpinning the summit is a research document charting the way forward for South African film as a strategic partner in the economic development of the country.
He says the wealth of material emerging from the research will enable the film industry to assist the government to decide what the needs are, so that the authorities can strategise on “how to come to the party”.
Topping the agenda for the film symposium is the planned establishment of a South African/EU Film Fund, aimed at, among others, strengthening existing bilateral treaties between South Africa and EU member states.
Another important aspect expected to emerge from deliberations, will be the South African film industry and its EU counterparts exploring co-production opportunities.
The summit is also aimed at bringing together South Africa and the EU in a bid to find ways of strengthening trade relations in the discipline of film and related industries, vis-…-vis tourism. It will also cover opportunities open to both sides in the spheres of film distribution and marketing. Above all, the symposium will be used as a springboard to showcase South Africa as a location, one area with the potential to earn the country much-needed foreign exchange. This will contribute to the chain value of film as a contributor to job creation in tourism and elsewhere. Scheduled to address the symposium are, among others, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel and Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin. The summit will be co-hosted by Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Ben Ngubane and EU ambassador to South Africa Michael Laidler. Other role-players such as the Independent Producers’ Organisation and the South African Scriptwriters’ Association are expected to contribute immensely to the symposium.
The symposium, it is hoped, will also trigger ripple effects for the rest of the African continent, in that it will be held shortly before Sithengi, the Southern African International Film and Television Market, where EU delegates are expected to proceed and network with other role-players from across Africa.