OVERVIEW Film Jobs are
OVERVIEW Film Jobs are being created in the creative sector. SECTOR INSIGHT R39-million has been invested in 25 projects. The oldest town outside the Western Cape was the scene of a very modern world film premiere when Wild is the Wind was shown for the first time in Graaff-Reinet in 2022. Several films had previously been shot in the town – notably the political thriller Red Dust – but this was the first production to make extensive use of local residents as actors and the local economy benefitted from the production in many ways. The joint hosts of the premiere were Known Associates Entertainment (KAE), MYD88 Films, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), the Sarah Baartman District Municipality and the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality. Another big financial supporter of the film project was the National Empowerment Fund. Since 2018, the Provincial Government, through the ECDC and various film funds, has invested R39-million in 25 film projects. This has attracted an investment revenue of R499-million, created employment for more than 8 400 people and boosted 690 small businesses. The film sector is seen as one of the best in terms of investment returns, especially in social terms such as employment and local economic development. The Economic Impact Report of the National Film and Video Foundation in 2021 concluded that the film industry is one of the sectors with the greatest potential for growth in South Africa. In 2023 the ECDC hosted the second instalment of the Eastern Cape Film Expo during the National Arts Festival. The Film Expo intends to position the Eastern Cape as a film and television destination of choice through engaging and attracting local and international film productions and investors. ONLINE RESOURCES Department of Trade, Industry and Competition: www.thedtic.gov.za Eastern Cape Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za National Film and Video Foundation: www.nfvf.co.za The ECDC’s Eastern Cape Investment Film Fund is available to most production categories, from animation to feature films with TV series and telenovelas and documentaries in between and ranges from R1-million to R3-million. The funding is restricted to productions that plan to shoot their projects in the Eastern Cape. Tourism, one of the best sectors for creating employment, will have been boosted by two series of the popular Survivor series. Survivor: Immunity Island, which was aired in 2021, showed off the glories of the Wild Coast landscape, one of the jewels in the crown of the province’s tourism offering. Skills transfer to young people has also accelerated with the investments taking place in four of the province’s district or metropolitan municipalities. There is also potential for the growth and development of a thriving film industry to have a positive impact on other sectors such as communication, media and entertainment. The industry, through its products, further promotes cultural knowledge and attracts international interest to the region. ■ EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024 50 PHOTO: michael clarke stuff, Wikimedia Commons
A preferred film and television destination of choice The Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund is supporting the fast-growing film sector. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) realises the investment promotion potential of promoting the Eastern Cape as a destination for hosting national and international film and television productions. The province has breath-taking film and television locations which position the Eastern Cape as a preferred film and television destination of choice. Since its inception in 2019, the province continues to realise a return of its investment in the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund (ECFIF). The province has realised the following economic spin-offs: • 25 productions have been funded • R39-million was invested by the ECDC • R499-million was attracted into the province • 8 400 temporary jobs were created • 690 SMMEs were contracted for support services during the production phases of the projects. The funding is only available to applicable and eligible productions shooting their projects in the Eastern Cape. The following funding categories are considered: Micro-film funding: Production funding: Short films • Documentaries • Short TV formats Feature films • Drama/TV series • Reality shows • Telenovelas • Documentaries • Animations How to access the fund The ECDC opens a funding call advertised on all ECDC social media platforms. These include on the ECDC website, Facebook and Instagram pages. Applicants are required to download and read the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund (ECFIF) Guidelines before completing the application form available on the ECDC website. https://www.ecdc.co.za/ecinvestmentfilmfund The annual Eastern Cape Film Expo In partnership with provincial and national stakeholders, the ECDC hosts the Eastern Cape Film Expo for three days, every June in Makhanda, coinciding with the National Arts Festival (NAF). The main aim of the expo is to promote the Eastern cape as film destination of choice through its breathtaking film locations. The festival is the ideal platform for engaging with industry experts, offer masterclasses and screenings/ exhibitions of local and international content. The main objective is to attract more local and international production houses to film their projects in the Eastern Cape due to the untapped opportunities of our beautiful locations, while also exposing the diversity of the province. ECDC recently funded productions Enquiries can be directed to Mr Songezo Boyisi at sboyisi@ecdc.co.za COME TO THE EASTERN CAPE YOUR INVESTMENT DESTINATION OF CHOICE
