THE CALL FOR THE FIFTH PRESIDENTIAL EMPLOYMENT STIMULUS PROGRAMME (PESP5) FOCUSED ON THE AUDIO-VISUAL INDUSTRY, IS OPEN.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), is pleased to announce the opening of the call for the Presidential Employment Stimulus Program 5, also referred to as PESP5 by the Presidency issued through the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (DSAC). The closing date for submissions is Friday, 24 May 2024, 17h00.
The NFVF has been tasked by the DSAC to administer PESP5, a government initiative designed to continue the reactivation in the sector into the right path as per the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (ERRP) after the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact. The package aims to assist practitioners and companies with projects in their implementation stages to reach completion through financial support. The call also aims to support the sector through continuous skills development; focusing on the skills which the sector deems scarce.
For the 2024/25 financial year, the DSAC has allocated R163 000 000 to ensure that the job creation target of 9 500 for the financial year is met.
The project allocation cost of R163 000 000 will be spread as follows:
- Stream 1: R 80 250 000 (3 860 jobs)
- Stream 2: R 30 450 000 (2 250 jobs)
- Stream 3: R 21 038 000 (3 250 jobs)
- Administration cost: R 6 262 000
Sub-Total: R138 000 000
No. of jobs (Grant Funding): 9 360 jobs
Digitisation of Videos R 25 000 000 (140 internship jobs)
Total no of Jobs 9 500 Jobs
Total R163 000 000
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
- Given that PESP is a special project, not all prescripts of the NFVF funding policy will be applicable.
- Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 – 12 March 2025 for Stream 1 ,2 and 3, within the above budget will be considered.
- For Stream 1, feature formats for fiction and non-fiction will not be considered to the limited timelines available for implementation. Only short formats across fiction and non-fiction will be considered.
- PESP-specific funding caps will be implemented in order to provide funding to as many practitioners as possible, without compromising the number of jobs that can be created within the set timeframes per stream. These caps are NOT to be confused with the funding caps of the NFVF funding policy as PESP is a special project.
- The ideal projects would be those with the ability to employ at least ten (10) or more people at the rates stipulated within the funding caps per stream.
- If applicants require supplementary funding, their applications need to clearly indicate the surety of this funding (Letters of intent etc.).
- Approved applicants will be required to open a separate designated bank account for PESP5 upon contracting.
- Approved applicants will be required to sign a power of attorney to the NFVF for the dedicated account.
- Projects submitted for the various streams should prioritise employment opportunities for youth, women, people living with disabilities and previously disadvantaged groups. All Priority will be given to applicants that have not received funding for PESP 1, PESP 3 and PESP 4.
- PESP5 is a special project for providing continued relief funding through job creation with a job creation target, as per the prescripts shared by the DSAC. It does not have budget set aside for appeals and therefore no provision has been made for appeals.
- AUDIO-VISUAL OPEN CALL STREAMS
STREAM 1: PRODUCTION OPEN CALL
- PROJECTS CONSIDERED:
- Fiction: Production Animations (Short Film/Pilot), Production Short Films, Production Web-Series, Post-Production Short Film, Production TV Pilot.
- Non-Fiction: Production Short Films Documentary, Production Web-Series, Post-Production Documentary Short Film, Production TV Pilot.
- Jobs Considered and Timeframe: Minimum of 10 jobs within a period of 4 months (Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 – 12 March 2025).
- PROJECTS NOT CONSIDERED:
- Fiction – Complete TV Series and TV Formats, Production Animation (Series), Production Animation (Feature Film), Production Feature Film, Production Made for TV, Post-Production Feature Film.
- Non-Fiction – Complete TV Series and TV Formats, Production Feature Documentary, Post-Production Documentary Feature Film.
STREAM 2: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OPEN CALL-
- PROJECTS CONSIDERED:
- Training programmes by provisionally and fully accredited training practitioners and non-accredited training by practitioners with a minimum of 10 years experienced. Preference will be given to training targeting scarce skills in the industry as well as training programs aimed at the Youth, People Living with Disabilities and Female filmmakers.
- Jobs Considered and Timeframe: Minimum of 10 jobs within a period of 4 months (Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 –12 March 2025)
STREAM 3: MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION OPEN CALL-
- PROJECTS CONSIDERED:
- Film Festivals, Markets and Public Screenings targeting job creation.
- No. Jobs Considered and Timeframe: Minimum of 10 jobs within a period of 4 months. (Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 –12 March 2025)
- PROJECTS NOT CONSIDERED: Normal Marketing & Distribution funding; Film Festival and Markets Attendance Funding.
The terms of reference and objective criteria have a deliberate focus on the following success factors for evaluation:
- Functionality – demonstrable project management capability and likelihood for high impact success i.e. project success, number of jobs created and geographical reach;
- BBBEE (targeted group as per National Treasury Regulations) – deliberate focus on the demographics with the highest incidence of unemployment;
- Scarce Skills – training and development proposals with the potential to address the scarce skills gap, while creating employment opportunities;
- Geographical Spread – deliberate focus on proposals that target underserviced provinces such as Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State, Limpopo, Eastern Cape) and underserviced areas in serviced provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape, especially due to the high population density areas which have resulted in high unemployment;
- Cost to job and service ratio – due attention to the proposals’ cost of employment ratios to ensure maximum costs of the stimulus are spent on recipients; and
- Minimum number of Jobs– ability to create ten (10) or more industry jobs.
- COMPULSORY APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Stream 1: Production Open Call
- Proposal synopsis (1 page);
- Brief project summary (maximum 5 pages);
- Treatment (maximum 20 pages);
- Fully developed script for fiction and fully developed outline for documentary;
- CVs with career profiles of the key creative team: Producer, Director, Writer, DOP and Line Producer; Each individual CV should be presented and a CV/team member can only be presented for a maximum 2 roles
- Production schedule;
- Marketing and distribution strategy;
- Production Company’s (or Individual) experience and previous productions;
- Detailed Budget and recoupment plan;
- Detailed finance plan.
- A full credit list/total number of jobs to be created.
- Letters of commitment/intent or agreements where applicable. This may include letters of agreement from key characters in non-fiction work as applicable.
- Non-fiction work reliant on archive should provide an archive plan.
Stream 2: Training Open Call
- Training programme outlines with objectives;
- Timelines;
- Selection criteria for the participants;
- CVs of the facilitators;
- Detailed Budget.
Stream 3: Marketing & Distribution Open Call
- CVs of key management
- Project Plan
- Activation area(s)
- Audience Development Strategy
- A unique selling point demonstrating sustainability and contribution to industry recovery and growth;
- For public screenings – Proposed screening schedule and structure.
- For film festivals and markets – Proposed screening schedule and structure and a proposed panel sessions and/or workshops
Furthermore, applicants submitting as companies must submit the following compulsory documentation:
- CVs of key personnel;
- Certified ID Documents of all Directors within six months from date of certification
- Budget and proposed project;
- Valid BBBEE certificate issued by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) or Sworn Affidavit
- Valid Tax Compliance Status Pin: Good Standing
- Company registration document preferably COR14.3 recently downloaded from CIPC
- Letter of Authorization of the applicant to apply on behalf of the institution
Applicants submitting as individuals must submit the following compulsory documentation:
- Certified copy of Identity Document;
- Individual Tax Certificate;
- Comprehensive CV;
- Budget and proposed project;
- Certified ID Document-within six months from date of certification
- EVALUATION CRITERIA
Stream 1: Production Open Call
- Experience of the Project Leader and CVs of the Key Management and Creative – 30%
- Coherence of the budget with the scope of the project and viability of the financial plan (15%)
- Realism of the agenda/timeline of the project – Concept (5%)
- Story Feasibility (15%)
- Number of Jobs (5%)
- Transformation (20%): Race (4%), Gender (4%), Disability (4%), Underserviced Province (5%), Transformation in Key Black Management Positions (3%)
| FICTION | CAP | TIER |
| Production Short Films | R400 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Production Web Series | R400 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Production TV Pilot | R350 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Production Animation
(Short Films) |
R600 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
| NON-FICTION | CAP | TIER |
| Production Short Films (Documentary) | R400 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Production Web Series
(Documentary) |
R400 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
ELIGIBILITY
Tier 1 – Experienced filmmakers who have a proven track record for developing and / or producing at least three successful and commercially viable feature films, series, TV films or documentaries.
Tier 2 – Filmmakers with limited experience. They must have developed and produced one or two feature films, TV films, TV series, documentaries, or two or three short films and/or commercials.
Tier 3 – New entrants into the industry, particularly recent film school graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds. They must have produced or directed at least one short film.
Stream 2: Training Open Call
- Experience (CVs and Facilitators) (30%)
- The coherence of the budget with the scope of the project and viability of the financial plan (15%)
- The realism of the agenda/timeline of the project (15%)
- Sustainability for future employment spinoffs (20%)
- Transformation (20%): Race (4%), Gender (4%), Disability (4%), Underserviced Province (5%), Transformation in Key Black Management Positions (3%)
| TRAINING PROGRAMMES | CAP |
| Training without production equipment for hire | R 700 000.00 |
| Training with production equipment for hire | R 1 000 000.00 |
| STIPEND | MINIMUM STIPEND |
| Each learner per day | R 350.00 |
| Each learner per month | R 5 000.00 |
Stream 3: Marketing & Distribution Open Call
- Experience (CVs and Facilitators) (30%)
- The coherence of the budget with the scope of the project and viability of the financial plan (15%)
- Audience development strategy (15%)
- Project plan (15)
- Number of jobs (5)
- Transformation (20%): Race (4%), Gender (4%), Disability (4%), Underserviced Province (5%), Transformation in Key Black Management Positions (3%)
| FILM FESTIVALS & SCREENINGS | CAP | TIER |
| Film Festival and Market Hosting | R1 500 000.00 | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Public Screening | R 500 000.00 | 2 and 3 |
ELIGIBILITY
Tier 1 – Established film festivals and markets – A festival or market in this tier should ideally have been in operation for more than ten years and be able to show that they attract funding from multiple sources.
Tier 2 – Intermediate film festivals, markets and screenings that have been in operation for more than five years and fewer than ten years.
Tier 3 – Emerging film festivals, markets and screenings that have been in operation for fewer than five years.
Dates:
- Opening date for submissions: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
- Closing date for submissions: Friday, 24 May 2024 at 17h00
Applicants need to register and complete the online application form using the following link: https://nfvf.praxisgms.co.za/
Please note that failure to submit the above-mentioned key and compulsory documentation will render the application incomplete and therefore disqualified.
Applicants are also advised that submission of false information/declaration will result in the funding being withdrawn by the NFVF.
All persons in the employ of government departments, entities, municipalities and other services are precluded from participating in the programme. No late applications will be accepted.
APPLICATION QUERIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO PESP@NFVF.CO.ZA, NOT APPLICATIONS@NFVF.CO.ZA