Filming in South Africa
Overview of the South African Film Industry
The South African Film industry is growing at a competitive rate. The industry competes internationally in areas such as providers of quality content, creative workmanship, and as a service region. South Africa has a long history of film production and is therefore among the oldest film industries in the world. Over the past ten years the industry has produced an array of award winning films, television series, documentaries and commercials.
Some of the best local and international films to be shot in South Africa include: Yesterday, Tsotsi, UCarmen Ekhayelitsha, Hotel Rwanda, Catch a Fire, Lord of War, Blood Diamond, District 9 and Invictus. Co-production treaties continue to enhance South African collaboration with international production houses, exposing the local industry to global skills and standards.
South Africa’s creative crew has globally competitive talents and expertise. The industry’s visual effects specialists and animators are fast gaining recognition and add to the greater value of local expertise.
The local industry was also given a boost with the establishment of a R500 million film studio on just under 200ha of land in Cape Town. Along with private shareholders, The Cape Town Film Studios is supported by national, provincial and local governments enabling films to be made a significantly reduced rates which has attracted international filmmakers.
Co-Productions
Co-production is a general term that covers a variety of production arrangements between two or more production companies undertaking a television, film or another video project. International co-production refers to the situation of two or more production enterprises from different countries undertaking such projects.
There are two types of co-productions:
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Creative control is shared between local and foreign partners, and there is a mix of local and foreign people in creative positions.
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A straightforward co-financing arrangement (finance only) in which one partner provides partial funding while another company undertakes the actual production.
To date, South Africa has entered into co-production treaties with Canada (1997), Italy (2003), Germany (2004) and the United Kingdom (2007), France (2010), New Zealand (2011) and Ireland (2012). South Africa will continue to enter into future co-production treaties with various countries for the benefit of the industry.
The effect of these agreements is that a film or television program, which is approved as an official co-production, is regarded as a national production of each of the co-producing countries, and is therefore eligible to apply for any benefits or programs of assistance available in either country. An additional advantage is that each of the co-producers brings access to their domestic market.
Incentives
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Film and TV Production/Post-production Incentives
The DTI administers three types of film and television incentives:
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Foreign Film and Television Production and Post-Production Incentive
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SA Film and Television Production and Co-production
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The South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive (SA Emerging Black Film)
Find a Crew
https://www.nfvf.co.za/home/index.php?ipkContentID=70
The Consul-General and the staff of the South African Consulate-General in Los Angeles are more than happy to assist in providing more detail and the relevant contacts to facilitate film production in South Africa.
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. 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 guided by a council made up of highly respected professionals who have diverse expertise in the film and television industry. The day-to-day operations are run by a management team and staff complement specialising in film production, development, training, marketing and communications, policy and research, human resources, administration, and financial management.
