Cannes Film Festival 2006
It is that time of the year when all filmmaking countries ascend to Cannes in France to participate at the annual film festival. South Africa will once again take part in the festival to not only showcase local product but to also strengthen relations with our counterparts.
Our presence at Cannes comes as a result of the partnership we have created over the years with the Department of Arts and Culture, Department of Trade and Industry and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
At this year's edition of the Cannes Film Festival, South Africa will conclude the long awaited co-production treaty between South Africa and the United Kingdom. The treaty was to be signed at Sithengi 2004, and due to the restructuring of UK's tax laws this was not possible to accomplish at the time.
There are a number of reasons why South Africa identified the UK as a potential co-production partner. Historically our film industries have had strong ties, with South Africa being used as a location for shooting numerous British films and commercials. Through our strong relations we have seen the production of films such as Beserker, Queen's Messenger and the Oscar winning film, Tsotsi emerge out of private co-productions between South African and UK producers. Secondly the UK is one of the leading players in co-productions and its government has recognised film as a key part of the UK creative industries.
South Africa's positioning strategy is that South Africa is a filmmaking nation, provides excellent environment for incoming productions and a partner for co-production. The South African government has developed financial instruments that are of benefit to foreign film investors and co-production partners. These include the DTI's Film Incentive Scheme and Section 24 F tax rebate and the IDC, a state institution, is still the largest South African investor in film.
To date South Africa has signed three co-production treaties with Germany, Italy, and Canada. It is through these treaties that projects such as Ghost Son, Hotel Rwanda, Stander, and Charlie Jade got to be made. The treaties that we have signed with our counterparts have and continue to yield great benefits for our local industry.
Since the signing of these treaties, South African producers have been able to collaborate with their counterparts from around the world as a means to access finance, but most importantly to access the markets and promote South African stories and an exchange of skills in filmmaking.
For example, early this year the UK Film Council and the NFVF launched the 25 Words Or Less Pitch contest (a scriptwriters competition) in anticipation that the treaty would soon be signed and hopefully these projects would be ripe to take advantage of the treaty.
A business focus for South Africa at Cannes 2006
Last year we saw an increased demand for South African product at the Festival. Apart from twelve South African films that were showcased under the All Cinemas Of The World programme and four others that were screened under the Cannes Market, South African producers concluded several deals with sales agents and distributors, and concluded a few co-production agreements.
Some the accomplishments include the following:
Fortissimo Films (Italy) acquired the rights to sell U-Carmen eKhayelitsha and this resulted in a further 7 territories being sold making the total 12 territories sold so far including Germany, Australia, Portugal, Italy, Thailand, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Russia and Syria.
Star Productions, a commercials and music video production was approached by an Italian production house to co-produce a feature film which will have a Hollywood actor as the lead role.
Dv8 Films secured a six picture post-production and world sales deal with Film I Vast from Sweden, and also with Trust Film Sales (Peter Aalbeck Jensen and Lars von Trier’s company).
A co-production agreement between South African producer Richard Green of Jazz Spirit and Mr. Enrico Coletti of Anaada Films and Mr Massimo Vigliar of Surf Films, Italy was signed for the production of John Kani's Nothing but the Truth.
Following the resounding success of South Africa at last year's event, the NFVF will promote a selection of its funded projects that are ready for production in a bid to find co-production partners and additional funding at the festival this year.
I would also like to mention the fact that the NFVF and the IDC have once again partnered in this year's Producers Network on 18 May at Cannes. The Producers Network provides a platform for international producers to network, share ideas and take part in round-table discussions hosted by moderators and special guests. Round table discussions bring about a wealth of knowledge in the areas finance, distribution and marketing.
The DTI has partnered with the NFVF to host South African pavilion at Cannes and its financial contribution has gone into sponsoring ten filmmakers from South Africa to attend the festival, through the DTI EMIA scheme and also assisted with the expansion of the South African pavilion for this year's edition of Cannes.
The IDC will be a partner in hosting South Africa's overall presence at Cannes for the third consecutive year. The importance of the IDC's involvement in this endeavour lies in the fact that the IDC is the main financier for big budget films in South Africa.
I would like to extend my gratitude to our partners, the DAC, DTI, and the IDC for providing sponsorship for delegates and the hosting of South Africa at Cannes 2006.
