On 14 and 15 November, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will host the 4th National Film Indaba at Emperors Palace Conference Centre in Johannesburg.
The aim of the Indaba is to bring together key film industry stakeholders to help draft the industry’s response to the National Development Plan and the Revised White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage.
NFVF council chairperson Mmabatho Ramagoshi will open the Indaba, followed by Paul Mashatile, Minister of Arts and Culture, who will deliver the keynote address.
“The South African government recognises the important role played by the film sector in nation building, promoting social cohesion, reconciliation and supporting economic growth and job creation. We can only strengthen the sector by all of us working together to find the best solutions for us, ones that will allow the South African film industry to reach even great heights,” said Mashatile ahead of the conference.
Held every four years, the Indaba seeks industry input on the state and direction of the film industry. It will be attended by governments departments, such as
Arts and Culture, Communications, Trade and Industry as well as other provincial and local government representatives, film industry representatives, broadcasters and private funders who will also form part of the delegation.
“The NFVF has engaged with various stakeholders in intense consultation processes on our journey towards a national strategy for the film and audio-visual sector. These consultations have been enriched by a number of research surveys and market reviews,’ said NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi.
“We are now seeking industry input into the way forward. Our discussions here, as well as the written input we may receive afterwards, will help articulate the policy going forward and inform our response to the new policy environment we operate in,’ she added.
The Indaba comes at a time when the industry is experiencing a boom with a number of local films such as Khumba; Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; Nothing for Mahala; Elelwani; Felix; Musiek vir die Agtergrond (Background Music); Of Good Report; Bakgat! 3; and Vehicle 19 in the market. Some of these films were funded by the NFVF.
Discussions at the Film Indaba will focus on four key strategic issues: Transformation and Human Capital Development; Infrastructural Development; Funding and Institutional Models; and Markets for South African Content.
“These topics will provide the industry’s contribution towards strategic pillars that have been identified in various government policy documents including the NDP, Mzansi Golden Economy and the draft White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage,’ said Aifheli Makhwanya, NFVF head of Policy and Research and acting head of Marketing and Communication.
“South Africa is also on the verge of digital terrestrial broadcasting rollout where there are a lot of opportunities envisaged for content creators. To this end, we need to know how the industry needs to position itself within this new era and what role the NFVF and other government or private institutions can play to best support the film industry.
“In addition, we are asking how the film industry can attract additional public and private sector investment and expand the infrastructure base for the film and audio-visual industry,’ concluded Makhwanya.
The NFVF welcomes written submissions on the strategy.
To view the 4th National Film Indaba discussion guide, click on http://nfvf.co.za/sites/default/files/indaba_discussion_guide.pdf.
