Beginning 1 April 2016, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) changed its funding cycle from a four-month annual cycle to a three-month annual cycle. This change will impact all the funding categories: Education and Training; Development (of feature films, documentaries and TV concepts); Production (of feature films and documentaries); and Marketing and Distribution, to allow more time for evaluations, and create a face to face pitch environment for shortlisted applicants.
Individuals, companies and organisations may submit funding applications to the NFVF in any of the aforementioned funding categories. The NFVF’s funding policy follows a tiered approach to funding to ensure that all levels of filmmakers, from emerging to experienced, benefit equally from funding and all the programmes of the organisation.
The year 2016/17 will see several significant landmarks in South African history being highlighted. The NFVF has been tasked with promoting social cohesion through initiatives such as audience development and accurate representation of our proud history.
“In the financial year 2016/17, we will continue to play a leading role in the growth of our industry, addressing the needs from the stakeholders and broader film community. The NFVF has committed to enabling the industry, doing so through production and development, policy and research, funding and governance. We would like to assure the industry that we will continue to implement our strategic priorities with integrity, and working towards improving the quality of life of ordinary South Africans,’ says Zama Mkosi, chief executive officer.
Highlights of the NFVF’s annual performance plan:
1. During this financial year, the development and production of films of historical significance including two documentaries for the 40th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, and two documentaries for the 60th anniversary of the Women’s March will be funded. A call has been issued to fund these documentary films.
2. The National Film and Video Foundation will also embark on the nationwide public screening campaign during youth month in June 2016; women’s month in August 2016; and December 2016 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the South African Constitution.
3. To address the issue of transformation within the film sector, the NFVF has reallocated its budget to ensure increased funding for emerging black filmmakers in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). More resources will be directed towards Tier 3 filmmakers i.e. new entrants into the industry, particularly but not limited to film school graduates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. This intervention is aimed at providing first time filmmakers with a “calling card’ into the film industry.
4. Four Black-owned production companies will be supported over a three-year period as part of the Enterprise Development Programme. During the past three years, this NFVF programme enabled the making of successful films such as Ayanda, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word, Hard to Get and Mrs Right Guy.
5. The NFVF will continue its support of women and youth filmmakers – a project which has seen the production of 20 films by young filmmakers and 20 films by women filmmakers in the past two years. In addition, it has also concluded a deal with the SABC to screen these films during youth and women’s months.
6. The NFVF will also continue its partnership with the MICT-seta by placing 80 interns at various broadcasters, film commissions and production houses across the country.
7. The NFVF will commission a research study to assess the economic impact of the film industry in South Africa as a follow up to the Economic Baseline Study conducted in 2012.
During the 2015/16 period project funding took place as follows:
• Documentaries Archive to the value of R300 000
• Documentaries Production to the value of R1 400 000
• Emerging Black Filmmakers Fund to the value of R5 600 000
• Fiction Slate – over a three (3) year period to the value of R6 000 000
• Marketing & Distribution Projects to the value of R589 740
• Marketing: Festival Funding – 2016/17 financial year to the value of R3 486 703
• Training Providers to the value of R360 112
• MICT – Seta bursaries to the value of value of R3 309 665
In terms of the annual performance plan for 2016/17, some of the NFVF’s financial year targets include to:
• Fund 66 projects in development;
• Fund 38 projects in production;
• Place 20 interns;
• Award 64 bursaries;
• Fund three (3) training initiatives;
• Fund 50 filmmakers to attend markets and film festivals;
• Attend and activate at seven (7) international festivals;
• Attend three (3) new markets for SA film content.
