A four film slate deal has been concluded between Cape Town-based Rogue Star Films, and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF). The films, to be made for less than R3m, will be produced over a period of three years.

Ross Garland of Rogue Star Films says that the funding is as a result of two films that he produced, Big Fellas and Confessions of a Gambler, along with other recent releases, which demonstrated that it is possible to create a sustainable business out of making features on lower budgets. “This led to discussions with the NFVF to test this model and show that we can make South African films that are viable.”

Garland believes that the industry is showing signs of becoming more sustainable. “The last 10 local films achieved an average of 70% gross box office return on budget, which is a huge jump from anything before. The idea is to make commercial films from a mix of proven genres, and use digital production, distribution and exhibition technologies to build a sustainable business model.”

Garland explains that Big Fellas was the second best local film out of eight released in cinemas in 2007 and Confessions of a Gambler played in local cinemas for 11 weeks. “This shows that we can do it.”

Read more in the August 2008 issue of Screen Africa