Last week about 150 members of the film and TV industry met at the Sandton Convention Centre with their European counterparts for the first ever European/South Africa Film Symposium.
Organised by the National Film and Video Foundation and the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology at a cost of R1,2-million – financial support came from Kodak and Sasani (studio owner and facility company) – the three-day symposium was a think-tank on how the industry can develop and sustain robust co-production between the European Union (EU) member states and South Africa.
The symposium was opened by Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Ben Ngubane and it became clear from his address and that of Deputy Minister of Finance Mandisi Mphahlwa, that the government is finally acknowledging the importance of a thriving local film and TV industry – from a cultural and economic perspective.
Mphahlwa said: “The government recognises the need to develop and nurture its film and television industry in order to unleash the enormous economic potential that this industry has for the country … It is from the relationships that we build with our international colleagues that we will learn how to avoid the mistakes and identify the pitfalls inherent in any endeavour to fast-track growth.
“The government recognises the need to implement economic incentives for the film and video industry in order to build the industry and to restore investor confidence.”
Ambassador Michael Laidler, head of the delegation of the European Commission, said the symposium was a watershed event of real significance and that it was nice to deal with something other than port, sherry and grappa – but he cautioned the delegates that they shouldn’t be looking for soft EU money, but rather that the symposium should become a forum for sharing experiences.
His address was followed by several presentations of European industry profiles including Rycelf Renstia of the Dutch Film Fund; Carolyn Lambert, head of policy at the United Kingdom’s Film Council; Jan Eric Bellinger from the Swedish Film Institute, Beng Toll from the Gothenburg Film Fund and Olivier Wotling from France’s Centre National du Cinematographie. Local film-makers were given an idea of how these industries survived on tax incentives, taxes on exhibitors, broadcasters and video publishers and film funds.
Accounting group PriceWaterhouseCoopers also made a presentation and spoke about fiscal backflow, the introduction of local quotas and, once again, tax incentives.
In the afternoon the delegates split up into groups to discuss relevant issues ranging from production through to marketing and distribution. More than 45 issues were tabled from the afternoon’s hectic discussions and there was a minimal report-back the next day.
Resolutions passed included, among others, that the EU member states present at the symposium will assist South Africa with training and development initiatives, festival exchange programmes will be initiated, co-production platforms set up and audience development strategies would be exchanged with the idea of nurturing indigenous products.
The assembled group also resolved to obtain certainty from the government regarding the present tax framework for film investments and that a study be made to realise the full economic impact of tax incentives and levies and to encourage new business partnerships between South Africa and the EU in the light of the Free Trade Agreement.
Independent producer Jeremy Nathan caused a stir when he said that everyone there had attended the same talk-shop for five years and nothing had happened. Nevertheless, the group resolved to have yet another indaba next February.
With Sithengi having taken place from November 13 to 16, and a promise from the government that a member of the Film and Video Foundation will sit on the Lottery Board (it was rumoured last week that Ngubane said 10% of all lottery money has been earmarked for the film and TV industry) there’s no doubt that the government is embracing the idea that we could be making our own versions of Once Were Warriors pretty soon.