Issued by: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MR LIONEL MTSHALI
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Mr Lionel Mtshali, today announced details on a Film Development Strategy for South Africa.
Speaking at a media conference during the Southern African Film and Television Market which is being held in Cape Town, Minister Mtshali announced that a South African Film and Video Foundation (SAFVF) will soon be established with a view of developing the Country's indigenous film industry.
A Bill which will give effect to the establishment of the Foundation had already been approved by Cabinet and will be tabled in Parliament during its next session.
In the interim, however, the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) will set-up a panel that will advise them on the disbursement of the R10 million interim film fund. The members of this panel are:
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will nominate one official, as will the DACST.
Outlining Government's vision for the South African film industry, the Minister said that a well developed industry will enable South African audiences to see their own interpretations of their experience and stories reflected on local screens. A long-term aim will be to facilitate placing the South African film industry on a sound commercial footing in order to enable it to become internationally competitive. This in turn will promote South African film productions and television and advertising commercials.
Members of the Board will be selected on the basis of a publicly transparent process. A total of ten members, all South African citizens and representative of a broad cross-section of the population, will be appointed by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology after due consultation with the Council of Culture Ministers (a body consisting of the National and Provincial Ministers responsible for Arts and Culture), film business practice and finance, film education, film law, marketing and entertainment.
The Board will meet four times a year. The composition of the Board will be reviewed every three years.
The SAFVF will be operated by a full-time, executive staff, in terms of guidelines laid down by the Board. The SAFVF staff will be required to maintain neutrality regarding the commercial interests of any individual or any company.
On the matter of funding, Minister Mtshali said that the SAFVF, as part of its annual transfer payments from the DACST, will receive contributions towards two new sources of funding: the Film and Video Initiative (FVI) and the Film Development Fund.
Operating under control of the Board of Directors of the SAFVF, the FVI will provide seed funding for film and video projects in accordance with publicly transparent criteria. Discretionary low cost loans and outright grants, subject to certain conditions, will be among the various financial instruments considered for film producers, new directors and scriptwriters. It is anticipated that the film industry will contribute towards the FVI, as Government will also do.
A Film Development Fund will be established, specifically as a training fund. Its main objective will be to effect redress across communities. It will provide financing, subject to certain conditions, for
The Minister added that the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the SAFVF will investigate other financial incentives from which private enterprise companies and individuals, investing in film and video projects, can benefit, as well as to attract or encourage foreign productions in South Africa.
In conclusion Mr Mtshali pointed out that the Film Development Strategy sketches out the broad framework for the revitalistion of the Country's film industry. Considerable creative energy is waiting to be deployed. It is the intention of this policy document to enable this to occur.
The aims for the promotion of film are:
Countries with successful film industries like Australia, Burkina Faso, Argentina, France, New Zealand and Canada all have a national statutory body for film promotion, and which has shown itself to be of essential value.
Following extensive research by various organisations, as well as the recommendations by the Arts and Culture Task group (ACTAG), it was decided to establish a new statutory body, the South African Film and Video Foundation (SAFVF).
Minister Mtshali added that:
The SAFVF will -
The objectives of the SAFVF will be to -
The Board of the SAFVF will comprise of members drawn through public nomination from the industry, broadcasters and independent persons. For the period of their tenure, members would be expected to divest themselves of company interests, or alternatively to rescue themselves, as appropriate.
14 November 1996