The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), in collaboration with The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition South Africa hosted an Eastern Cape Film Industry Roundtable at the InvestSA One Stop Shop Eastern Cape in East London, aimed at developing a clear roadmap to better support the film industry in the province.
Comprised of filmmakers, producers, executives and government stakeholders, the roundtable explored the challenges, trends and opportunities within the film industry, and how the Eastern Cape can better capitalise on these opportunities.
The hybrid event attracted more than 30 industry players from across South Africa.
Setting the scene, ECDC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Lulama Mbobo-Vava, said the province continues to face systemic barriers that limit access to funding, infrastructure, skills development and market participation for local filmmakers.
“The ECDC recognises that open dialogue, equal participation and collaborative problem-solving across diverse perspectives are critical to attracting investment into the industry. The roundtable is crucial in identifying short-, medium- and long-term initiatives to support a sustained pipeline of film productions in the province.
“We also recognise the investment promotion potential of positioning the Eastern Cape as a destination for hosting national and international film and television productions. The breathtaking locations the province offers make it a preferred destination for film and television production,” said Vava.
The roundtable discussions were followed by presentations from key sector stakeholders, including the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), which presented on the state of the industry; the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), which outlined the provincial audio-visual policy; and the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Council (ECPACC), which detailed available development programmes for the film industry.
The ECDC outlined its support for the sector and presented on the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund and available incentives. Since 2019, the ECDC has disbursed R48-million to 39 film projects.
FAME Africa’s Martin Hillert presented contrasting views on the future direction of the industry, including predictions for the next five to ten years. Film producers Fabian Medea and Luzuko Dilima spoke about challenges and opportunities within the sector and reflected on their experiences working as filmmakers in the Eastern Cape.
