The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has undertaken a fact-finding
mission at the Berlin International Film Festival taking place as of the 6th until
the 16th of February 2014. The purpose of this mission is to investigate the
relevance of the festival to the local film industry and to determine whether the
country requires an official participation at the festival.
NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi and Head of Production and Development Clarence
Hamilton are attending the festival, where they are scheduled to take part in
various strategic engagements with relevant stakeholders during the festival.
On Monday the 10th of February 2014, Mkosi will take part in the Germany-South
Africa Co-productions Roundtable discussion. The purpose of the discussion is to
take a closer look at co-productions between the two countries and to give
filmmakers from both countries an opportunity to network. Although the treaty
between South Africa and Germany produces the highest number of annual co-
productions since 2008, the NFVF would like open up opportunities for other
South African companies to co-produce with German companies.
Another objective is to unpack the broad legal framework within which co-
productions between SA and Germany take place, as well as discussing funding
opportunities from both countries. Other speakers at the roundtable include Dr.
Nonceba Mashalaba, Chief Director and Acting Deputy Director General at the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Dv8 Films CEO Jeremy Nathan and Dr.
Teresa Hofert de Turegano from the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. The event
will be opened by His Excellency Makhenkesi Stofile, South African Ambassador in
Germany.
The South African Embassy in Berlin, together with the DTI, will also host the SA-
Germany Networking Reception on Monday evening. Furthermore, the DTI will
host a stand at the European Film Market where a delegation of local film
professionals will provide information on the South African industry.
“We are very excited to be embarking on this mission which will inform our
approach to the festival moving forward. There is no doubt that the festival is
one of biggest international film festivals; however, it is important that we first
understand its offering and determine how our industry can best position itself
and benefit from this platform. We are happy that already there is some degree
of participation at the European Film Market thanks to the DTI and other
stakeholders that have partnered with us. We will be observing the participation
with an aim of, among other things, identifying where we can add value in the
future,’ says Mkosi.
Mkosi and Hamilton will also be meeting representatives from the German
Federal Film Board – the NFVF equivalent body in Germany – as well as with
representatives from the New Zealand Film Commission for discussions around
possible actions for the South Africa /New Zealand co-production treaty.
