Runner-up — Enterprise Development Award Absa and Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking
Big Fish is an independent film school and production house that aims to tackle unemployment among young matriculants by producing socially responsible and progressive filmmakers.
Originally established in 2003 by chief executive Melanie Chait as the film and TV unit at Monash South Africa, it relocated to Auckland Park in 2007. Its aims include building an indigenous filmmaking culture.
“What makes us different is that we are the only multi-award-winning film school in South Africa that provides post-secondary or tertiary education to talented young people marginalised by economics, race, geography and gender, to enable them to be economically sustainable, socially relevant filmmakers using media to affect social change,” say the organisers.
Absa started supporting Big Fish in 2008 and has committed R2.5-million in funding over the past two years under its corporate social investment theme, “Banking on Brighter Futures”.
‘Projects undertaken under this theme focus on financial inclusion, financial independence and security, entrepreneurship and employment creation,” says Absa’s general manager of CSI, Mihloti Mathye.
“Projects are undertaken in partnership with experts in the field who offer holistic and practical models to address social development priorities.”
Besides giving young people training and employment in the film and TV industry, Big Fish promotes women and youth, challenging the status quo in the industry and introducing new voices. Their stories have been aired internationally and have won a number of awards.
The school enrols 20 participants twice a year. Entry requirements for year one are grade 12 or equivalent, previous experience in film or video, passion and entrepreneurial flair.
“All the Big Fish students trained on the Absa programme were offered employment,” says Mathye. “It gives opportunities to previously disadvantaged individuals in film and television.”
The Investing in the Future judges praised the training model used by Big Fish. Though the project was relatively small, it was making a big difference in the industry and in the lives of individuals, they said.