Department of Trade and Industry to woo investors to the SA Film Sector
According to the department’s spokesperson Mr Sidwell Medupe the deputy minister is on a mission to encourage production houses to use South Africa as a location for films.
MBOMBELA- The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina is said to have arrived in Cannes, France, where he is leading a delegation of 20 emerging black filmmakers to the 68th Annual Cannes International Film Festival, taking place from today until May 17.
According to the department’s spokesperson Mr Sidwell Medupe the deputy minister is on a mission to encourage production houses to use South Africa as a location for films. “He also aims to expose emerging black filmmakers to international markets, distributors, funders and producers with the intention of transforming and growing the South African film industry,”explained Medupe.
“South Africa has signed co-production treaty with France. This agreement serves as a driver from which France can contribute to the expansion of the film, television, video production and distribution industries of both countries. It also serves to enhance the development of cultural and economic exchanges,” said the Deputy Minister Masina.
Masina’s programme will include meetings with the United States of America studio, Lions Gate, as well as with Axiom, a leading United Kingdom-based production, distribution and sales company. He will also hold meetings with international producers from different countries.
The 20 filmmakers were funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, (the dti). They will participate in a producers’ network and workshop sessions.
