At a lavish event held in Soweto in April, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive. This incentive has been much anticipated as many producers and filmmakers believe it will go a long way in further establishing the local South African film industry.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa confirmed the DTI's support for the industry at the launch. "The DTI supports the film and television industry and the government has prioritised this industry as a growth sector. With regards to the Local Incentive the government wants to create an environment conducive to local content. We also believe that this sector has delivered with regards to films like Tsotsi, U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, Drum and many more."

Mpahlwa said furthermore that the film and television industry underpins South Africa's cultural heritage. "Hertzog (Albert Hertzog was the Nationalist Party Minister of Post & Telecommunications in the 1960s) once said that TV would contribute to the downfall of the nation; it was the devil's own box. This reaction was largely due to the distrust of communication and fear. We are fortunate that Walter Sisulu forms an integral part of our heritage. In a statement he made he said it was incumbent that all honest men have an obligation to fight tyranny. If we speak about this industry, it holds a valuable position of being able to reflect the truth and speak to people."

Mpahlwa said that government support for the film industry can be controversial. "Some say we should not support it. However if you look at what the industry has contributed to the national economy it is a different story. It has boosted skills and employment opportunities significantly and therefore is worthy of support. The spin-offs are also considerable and development takes place in the creative sector, for instance scriptwriting and directing and other sectors like copyright law and hospitality."

Read more in the May 2008 issue of Screen Africa