On Thursday and Friday of last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 4th National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Film Indaba - thanks to Tashi for the hook-up - held at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre - the same venue where CODESSA took place.
This Indaba, if you believe the very articulate and passionate CEO of NFVF Zama Mkosi, was not going to be another talk shop. The main idea behind it was to get government and the film industry to come together under one roof to discuss a plan that speaks to government policies - the buzzword at the moment being the National Development Plan aka NDP.
"More South African stories"
Day 1 saw speeches by the Arts and Culture minister Paul Mashatile, who advocated for more stories to be told by South Africans, greater pan African interaction and development within the sector, a proposed centralized fund for all projects and a National Film Commission to replace the current foundation.
Aside from Paul Mashatile, there were members from the Department of Communication who are in charge of the SABC and most of the policy for broadcast and the eventual digital migration.
Close-up on Freevision
The SENTECH guys who manage our broadcast signal were there and presented their alternative set-top box Freevision. Yep, our future lounges will have six to five set-top boxes at this rate. Freevision has its own channels, plus the free to air channels and you can also create your own channel and have it free to air on their bouquet.
The plan
The department of Trade and Industry also made a presentation on what it's been doing in the film sector. With its funding of major budget films and series e.g. the movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the series Black Sails, etc. The big news is that they want to get involved in distribution and lowering the funding model to include low budget films.
From the industry you had your David Kau, Akin Omotoso, Rolie Nikiwe, Rehad Desai, the South African Screen Federation just to mention a few who were there as participants. The debates where lively with tempers overflowing at moments but by Day 2 I believe the tempers had simmered a bit.
NFVF made provisions that it will create a 3-tier structure to support the industry so that there's funding and support from entry level to well established members.
They also announced a fund for female filmmakers and people with disabilities that will be available in conjunction with the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
From the interactions the following came out ;
- South African Screen Federation (SASFED) wants more interactions with the government and representation on official policies to do with the government.
- The country will embark on film centres that will be one-stop-shops in every Province - where one will be able to rent space, get recording facilities, rent equipment etc.
- A transformation charter for the industry needs to be created so as to help in the creation of more black production companies and promote black people to move up the ranks in the film industry.
- The issue of broadband internet and bandwidth will be addressed with DOC and relevant stakeholders as it is seen as something slowing the growth of the industry.
- SABC will be engaged on how it can play a bigger part within the film sector.
- Move to up local content quotas - not just on television but also at the cinema via legislation.
The time is now
Personally, what I took from the 2 days of the Indaba is that there are a lot of people who mean well in the industry - from both the government agencies and the industry - but if one really wants to make a film, the government funding or assistance is not the answer. There’s a bit of red tape and processes that still need to be ironed out.
The era of the independent filmmaker is here - those who are still looking for funding may do so but don’t complain if things do not move as quickly as you want them to. The idea is to go full-on independent, source you own funding, create your own market, create your own value and these agencies will meet you when you are there, if ever. The time is now.