It is all systems go for the long awaited Cape Town Film Studios, formerly known as Dreamworld. The City of Cape Town announced on 23 January that it had approved R30m in terms of the provision of bulk infrastructure for the studio project to be built in Faure just outside Cape Town. At a media briefing on 5 February, the countdown for the erection of the studios was revealed by Anant Singh, chairperson of the shareholder consortium, Dreamworld Film City Limited, which won the bid to build the Hollywood-style studio complex in 2004.

With all the legal documents signed, Singh explained that critical mid-year dates in 2008 could now be met in terms of the Environmental Management Plan and funding agreements relating to the upgrading of the R301 highway, bulk infrastructure and the studio buildings themselves. Work on the bulk services and roadway starts on 17 March and in terms of the contractual obligations, the building foundations must be in the ground by June 2008. The studios are expected to be opened at the beginning of 2010 but some of the facilities, like the backlot, will be available earlier.

The CEO of the Cape Town Film Studios will be announced early in March when contractual issues have been agreed upon. At the time of writing Screen Africa was therefore obliged not to announce the name of the new CEO, other than disclose that he is a prominent executive producer with excellent connections to the international film, television and commercials production community.

Besides the R30m granted by the Provincial Government through Wesgro in return for a 10% equity stake, the government undertook in 2004 to contribute R60 million towards the project. The balance of the estimated budget of R400m will come from the private sector. Wesgro has been tasked with managing the project and ensuring the most favourable outcome for the government and for the Western Cape film industry.

Read more in the March 2008 issue of Screen Africa