A national strategic investment program to support the audio-visual industry and drive job creation
28 November 2022, Johannesburg: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce outcomes of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package (PESP).
The NFVF once again was tasked by Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to administer the PESP, designed to support the audio-visual industry following the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the sector and on the economy more broadly, the NFVF is one of the implementing agencies for this third iteration of the program.
The PESP call for applications was aligned to three streams:
Stream 1, the Production Open Call, was a call for production proposals, including documentaries, television scripts and any other relevant audio-visual proposals, with an ability to create ten or more jobs.
Stream 2, the Skills Development Call was focused on Skills Development initiatives, including graduate development programmes.
Stream 3, the Marketing & Distribution Call was a call for applications relating to distribution strategy proposals, such as public screening, film festivals and other film-related events, with an emphasis on job creation.
Following a careful review process, the NFVF is proud to announce the following outcomes:
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- The Stream 2 call received a total of 180 applications. Of these, 142 were found to meet the application criteria. After careful review, 24 projects will be considered for funding.
- The Stream 3 call received a total of 129 applications. Of these, 93 were found to meet the application criteria. After careful review, 21 projects will be considered for funding.
Stream 1 (the Production Open Call) outcomes will be communicated through our social media platforms in the near future.
The CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation, Makhosazana Khanyile said that the PESP has played a vital role in supporting the audio-visual industry in an especially difficult period: “COVID-19 was challenging for everyone, and it hit the film and related industries especially hard. The PESP is designed to inject funding into the sector in a careful, targeted way to create urgently needed jobs and inject new life into a thriving industry that plays such an important role in the economy and in the lives of ordinary South Africans.”
Funding for industry projects across South Africa
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- Through the PESP, the DSAC was allocated R152,3 million for the 2022/23 financial year to ensure the creation of 9000 jobs per financial year but the revised amount of jobs created for financial year 2022/23 is 11 312 jobs.
- Funding followed an application process. The call for applications was released to the public on 24 June 2022. The application period close on 5 August 2022. During the application window, the NFVF received a total of 979 PESP applications.
- Following the approval process, opportunities will be implemented nationally for industry practitioners covered by the NFVF’s mandate.
As Khanyile explained, the three phases of the PESP were designed to provide an integrated and comprehensive strategy supporting job creation throughout the sector.
Allocation of investment
All applications to the PESP were subject to a careful review process by skilled industry professionals, to ensure they met the criteria laid out by the initiative.Following the review process, PESP outcome letters for Streams 2 & 3 were sent out on 23 November 2022.
For the 2022/23 financial year, the PESP funding was broken down as follows:
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- Stream 1: Production Open Call – R 107 775, 769.70 (targeting 7000 jobs)
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- Stream 2: Skills Development Call– R 25 618 230.30 (targeting 1300 jobs)
- Stream 3: Marketing & Distribution Call– R 12 184 000 (targeting 700 jobs)
The PESP is part of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, initiated in October 2022 by President Cyril Ramaphosa. To date, the initiative has played an indispensable role in sustaining and growing the audio-visual industry nationwide, reaching over a million beneficiaries in local communities and rural areas, and creating enduring social value.
For any enquires about the PESP, email pesp@nfvf.co.za or contact:
Lerato Mokopanele
National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF)
Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: +27 11 483 0880 Leratom@nfvf.co.za
About the NFVF
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Sport, 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 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.