The new look and vision of the Cape Town Film Studios (CTFS) was launched on Monday 1 December on the Faure site, near Stellenbosch, where the mega studio complex will be built. The industry learnt from CTFS chief executive officer Nico Dekker that by early 2010, the first phase which includes four studios, two workshops and the production house will be complete. Half of the CTFS 200 hectares site will be developed and the rest will remain as unspoilt wetlands. Of the 100ha that is to be developed, 70% is earmarked for studio use with the remaining area allocated for residential, commercial and retail developments. (See www.screenafrica.com for Screen AfricaÕs report on CTFS developments at the time of the launch.)
Dekker told Screen Africa that there had been a remarkable confidence turnabout by the industry in the development of the long delayed R450m Hollywood-style studios. Industry scepticism about whether the studio complex would ever be built has finally turned to enthusiastic support with more than 60 film-related companies indicating their interest to move to the future studio site.
The type of companies which have made serious enquiries about relocating to the CTFS range from production, post-production, film and digital laboratories, special effects, set building, casting, training academies, event management, catering, rental, stunts, make-up, film accounting, props, plaster art to IT and an IMAX 3D Film Theatre.
In order to build further film industry awareness in South Africa as well as in Europe, North America and Asia, the CTFS will launch a wide range of marketing campaigns in 2009 which will include a number of spectacular events.
Read more in the January 2009 issue of Screen Africa
