Pretoria - The South African film industry contributes R3.5 billion annually to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile announced on Friday.
Speaking at the release of the economic impact study of the industry, Mashatile said: “We are encouraged to note that the industry contributes R3.5 billion annually to our GDP, and that it provides employment to more than 25 000 people.”
Mashatile said government will use the study to strengthen the work being done to provide increased and sustained support for the industry.
The minister said they were currently in the process of converting the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) into a fully-fledged National Film Commission and establishing a National Film Fund.
“We believe that these initiatives will contribute significantly to the growth, development and sustainability of the local film industry.
“The study we are releasing today will assist us in our work to generate additional investment into the sector, expand enterprise and business opportunities, create a sustainable funding model, strengthen competitiveness, facilitate skills development, build the necessary support infrastructure as well as expand access to existing and new markets for our film makers,” he said.
Mashatile said the study laid the basis for the country’s interventions to ensure that the film sector contributes directly to the goals of the Mzansi Golden Economy strategy, which was the contribution of the arts, culture and heritage industries to the New Growth Path.
“The study will also assist us as we seek to build partnerships with the private sector. It will also strengthen our ability to advocate for more favourable incentives for the sector so as to attract investment.
“Using the findings of the study, we will be in a better position to identify the best institutional structures and mechanisms to support the growth of the sector,” he said.
The study was released at a time when local films and actors continued to receive acclaim across the globe.
Actress Florence Masebe recently won the Best Actress in a Lead Role Award for the film Elelwani during this year’s African Movie Academy (AMA) Awards.
The film also won the Best Production Design Award. A number of other South African productions were nominated and received awards at the same event.
Earlier this year, the country celebrated the achievement by the film Layla Fourie, which received the Jury Special Mention Award at the Berlinale International Film Festival.
The minister said this showed that the world wanted to hear the South African story - a story of the triumph of the human spirit.
“I wish to assure all those involved in the local film sector that your good work has not gone unnoticed. You have the full support of this government,” Mashatile said.
The last time government presented a comprehensive study on the economic impact of the South African film industry was in 2000.
The study includes value chain analysis, the size of the industry, economic multiplier effects, including the number of direct and indirect jobs created.
“We are emboldened by the fact that the study vindicates the view we have always held, that the local film industry, as part of the broader creative industries, is a major driver of economic growth, job creation and the building of sustainable livelihoods,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
