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Invitation to submit proposals for the Fiction Slate

By 29 June 2021No Comments

The National Film and Video Foundations invitation to submit proposals for the Fiction Slate

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture that was created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa’s film and video industry. The NFVF does this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers. In addition, the NFVF commissions research and produces industry statistics that provide both the public and stakeholders with valuable insights into the South African film industry.

The NFVF is pleased to announce that the call to submit proposals for the 4th fiction slate funding is open. The NFVF would like to invite eligible production companies to submit proposals for the slate funding which will be awarded to three companies and will be administered over a period of three years.

BACKGROUND

Over the past years, the NFVF has awarded slate funding to production companies with the specific objective of cultivating sustainable and viable businesses. The initiative was developed out of best practice internationally and was rooted in the notion that when a small company is granted operating capital towards development and cornerstone financing for production over a predetermined period, a great deal of uncertainty is removed from running the business. Successes produced from the programme included box-office hits such as, Keeping up with the Kandasamys, Happiness is a Four Letter Word, Ayanda: The Mechanic, and Mrs Right Guy, to name a few.

SLATE FUNDING OBJECTIVES

  • Cultivating sustainable and viable production companies.
  • Assisting production companies to identify and produce films that demonstrate audience awareness in the South African and international market.
  • Finding original ways of reaching audiences nationwide.
  • Increasing the marketing and export of South African film products to the global market.
  • Promoting greater cooperation between production companies and distribution companies.

BUDGET

The budget is capped at R6 000 000.00 million per slate and is disbursed over 3 years as follows:

  • R2 100 000.00 – for the full development of 9 concepts with a 25% cap for overheads;
  • R3 900 000.00 – for the production of 3 films

ELIGIBILITY

  • 51% black-owned and managed companies with a unique proposal.
  • Preference will be given to female-owned companies.
  • Producer/s must be a South African citizen or be a permanent resident of South Africa.
  • Tier 2 Production Company. This is defined in the NFVF Funding Policy as “Filmmakers with limited experience in the film industry, but who have developed and produced 1-2 feature-length films, television fiction and/or, 2-3 documentary short films seeking to venture into featurefilm or documentary development and production”.
  • Production company should demonstrate an understanding of packaging and marketing of feature-films.
  • A production company that has a clear training and development strategy (an added advantage, not compulsory).
  • Producer or production company that has an established relationship with local distributors and/or international sales agents.

WHO DOES NOT QUALIFY?

  • Previous recipients of NFVF funding in the following categories; animation slates, documentary slates, youth and female filmmaker project will NOT be eligible for this fund.
  • Individuals and/or production companies that have 4 (four) active NFVF funded projects across the value chain i.e. development, production, post-production, marketing and distribution, training and festival funding support.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

  • Quality of the concept proposal
  • Capacity and capability of the company to deliver an accepted global standard.
  • Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • The consistency of budgets and a detailed project plan (Concise plan for 3 years)
  • Distribution and marketing plan
  • The unique selling point in respect of sustainability and contribution to transformation in the industry.
  • Experience of the creative team.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Proposal to include a minimum of three concepts. One of which needs to be fully developed (on 2nd draft screenplay) and ready to go into production:

  • One Script – (second draft)
  • CVs with career profiles of the key creative team:
    • Producer, Director, Writer, DOP and Line Producer
    • Directors Treatment (for the fully developed project)
    • Chain of title documentation including script and music to name a few. (for a fully developed project)
    • A 2-page concept document outlining: (For all 3 concepts)
      • Synopsis
      • Logline
      • Genre
      • Target market
    • Summary budget with a finance and cash flow plan (3 years)
    • Recoupment plan
    • Development and production schedule (3 years)
    • Marketing and distribution strategy
    • Estimated sales projections (if available)
    • Production Company’s experience and previous productions involved in.

COMPULSORY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Tax Clearance Certificate
  • BBBEE Certificate
  • Certified ID copy (valid for 3 months)
  • Company registration documents

Failure to submit the abovementioned key and compulsory documentation will render the application incomplete and therefore disqualified.

Applications must be submitted via the NFVF application portal: click here

Application queries may be directed to applications@nfvf.co.za. Kindly email all content related queries to Refiloe Hlabioa at refiloeh@nfvf.co.za

CLOSING DATE: 13 February 2019.

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