To grow markets for South African cinema, stimulate demand for South African film, generate an interest in the South African film genre, and give an opportunity to our audiences to see themselves and their stories in cinematic form.
Local South African television content is always in the 10 top in television AR's, we believe that there is an untapped audience for film that can still be reached. We also have an objective of turning film into a viable commercial commodity.
To provide avenues for the distribution of South African film as cinema screens are concentrated in city centres. The majority of the potential South African cinema going audience does not have easy access to these cinemas. At the moment no cinemas exist in the townships.
Festival support is aimed at increasing the channels of distribution for South African content into semi rural, rural and township areas.
Examples are Apollo and North West, Apollo is in Victoria West. The North West film festival has an extensive outreach programme that reaches major parts of the province.Soweto, KwaMashu and Malopo Film festivals all take place in Townships in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal.
To change the status quo that says that local films have low commercial value and appeal for local and international markets. South African films screened in township and rural areas have a high appreciation index from the audience. Television local content quotas (IBA then ICASA), forced the broadcasters to generate more local content which in turn created a greater appreciation for local South African television content. Local television content is also steadily generating more advertising revenue. We believe that what happened in the television environment can be achieved with film.
To provide a networking platform for South African film practitioners. Film Festivals are one of the few places where film practitioners get an opportunity to meet and network. Networking in the film industry is very important as it allows for Practitioners to meet people in the industry, get an understanding of who does what, know new industry news, get an understanding of the benefit of film festivals and how they work. They also find potential partners for current and future projects, and find potential talent for current and future projects.
To allow for the provision of filmmaking workshops in the communities. Filmmaking workshops conducted during film festivals give members of the community first hand experience of making a short film. Groups are assigned a writer, director, editor, cameraperson, soundperson etc. The film has to be produced during the time of the festival.
The workshops show communities the different areas of filmmaking and hopefully create an interest for filmmaking as a career. The workshops also allow the communities to tell their own stories in their own way, and have these projected back to them on the silver screen.
To share information with the industry on NFVF programmes and projects. The NFVF uses film festivals and markets, where appropriate, as platforms where they communicate their, strategy, policy and programmes, and provide an opportunity for the industry to get an understanding of the NFVF as an institution and its programmes and strategies for the growth of the industry.
The NFVF provides a fund to the following festivals to help meet the objectives outlined below:
Durban International Film Festival, Durban, KwaZulu - Natal.
Encounters Documentary Festival, Johannesburg (Gauteng), Cape Town (Western Cape)
TriContinental Film Festival, Johannesburg (Gauteng), Cape Town (Western Cape)
North West Film Festival, Mafikeng (North West)
Apollo Film Festival, Victoria West, Northern Cape
Malopo Arts Festival, Mamelodi (Pretoria, Gauteng)
Cape Town World Cinema Festival, Cape Town (Western Cape)
Soweto Arts Festival, Johannesburg (Gauteng)
KwaMashu Film Festival, Durban (KwaZulu-Natal)
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Johannesburg (Gauteng)
The fund is given directly to the festivals to allow for independence and the latitude to present a festival that best fits the needs of the festival and the community it serves.
