Film Indaba 2005...a time for reflection

The Film Indaba 2001 marked the beginning of a consultative process through which the NFVF aimed to mobilize the industry as a means to attain social capital, intellectual and political capital as well as identifying possible sources of factors of production within the sector. The outcome of Indaba 2001 was the development of a strategy, which culminated in the draft of the Value Charter; a blueprint document for the development of the sector. The core of the Value Charter is the Moral Imperative which asserts the need to create facilities for ordinary South Africans to bear influence in the expression of their own images, thereby deepening democracy and creating prosperity.

During the four-year tenure, the NFVF has been able to position the South African film industry internationally as a partner through co-production treaties that we have signed with countries like Germany, Italy and Canada. At the same time we have supported initiatives that were aimed at developing our indigenous industry through films like Drum, Max and Mona, Forgiveness and many others. To date 30 South African films have earned prestigious international awards as a result of our positioning at major festivals and markets. We have also created access for previously disadvantaged individuals through development funding and bursaries. The NFVF has also created synergies amongst and between stakeholders, government, the industry and civil society.

Notwithstanding these achievements the film industry is still fragmented and hence the need for sectoral co- ordination and the need for the industry including government to speak with one voice.

It is important that the stakeholders heed the call that was made by the National Cabinet in 2002 to prioritise the cultural industries and the mainstream of the Micro Economic Reform Strategy (MRS). The NFVF guided by the outcomes of Indaba 2001, became an important catalyst to drive the film sector towards transformation. The Value Charter articulates how this transformation and growth could occur.

The problem of fragmentation could be better addressed if there could be equitable power distribution between the state, the private sector and civil society. This is the reason we welcome the steps taken by the Independent Producers Association (IPO) to re-organise itself. We welcome the initiatives taken by black filmmakers to organize themselves under the Black Filmmakers Network (BFN). We also welcome the platform created by the Encounters Documentary Film Festival to create space for documentary filmmakers to organize themselves.

Experimentation has shown that those industries with industrial Federations or sectoral chambers deal with their challenges in a more effective way. Therefore the establishment of the film industry federation is one of my ideal dreams. However I recognize that it is the will of the film fraternity that will provide energy to form this body. The NFVF as a statutory body can only support the will of the people and cannot make an imposition.

In the last two years the NFVF has advocated for the development of an indigenous industry by means of local content and genre through submissions to statutory and industry bodies such as Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Even at these important forums, the voice of the independent practitioners was lacking to an extent that the NFVF was expected to assume this role.

As we brace up for the Rapid Growth Phase as stipulated in the Value Charter, it is important that we keep the momentum going in order for us to remain competitive in the world market. This can only be done if there is coherence, adequate human capital and financial resources.

All of the abovementioned successes and challenges will be discussed at length during Indaba 2005. It is an opportunity for the industry to engage with state institutions and I hope that there will be constructive engagement.

The main aims of Film Indaba 2005 include the review of the Value Charter; formulate discussions around the co-ordination of developmental initiatives by various state institutions, the industry and civil society and mobilizing consensus on key priorities in order to sustain what we have started.

We encourage all filmmakers, industry institutions and the civil society to make their adequate contribution into this forum as all of the submissions and resolutions will inform government of future prospects for the film sector.