​The City of Cape Town has announced its intentions of initiating a Film Fund to the industry. 

The fund will be established to provide support to film projects focused on development, transformation and empowerment.   

The City intends on consulting an advisory panel made up of industry experts to assist with the decision-making with regards to disbursing funding to identified projects.

‘As the City of Cape Town, we want this industry to flourish not only in the present but to continue to be sustainable for more years to come, because we recognise the value it brings to Cape Town. In order for the industry to grow, we understand that it has to receive support from the government so that it can continue to develop and provide much needed jobs for our residents and can position Cape Town as the premier film and media hub of Africa,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
The City has frozen tariffs for the film industry for the 2018/19 financial year as well as the current (2019/20) financial year.

 

​​​​ ‘This past year, we have spent time considering the City’s position with film and we decided that it was time to address the challenges faced by the industry through concrete and pragmatic plans. One of those practical considerations is a Film Fund.  Normally things like funding take years to actually materialise, but with the support of council we are hoping we can pilot the film fund immediately because we realise the need to address this issue.

 

‘This is an important industry because not only does it provide entertainment for us, it is a great contributor to the local economy with about R R3.5 billion a year and employs thousands of people,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

​​ During the film industry engagement, the City also committed to providing more support to the sector through: 

●     Unlocking more film locations
●     Keeping the zero tariff
●     Continuing to market the film destination through the Film Cape Town initiative
●     Further reviewing the establishment of a film entity
 
The City is also supporting more film industry events, through funding or municipal services, that help showcase the work being produced in Cape Town in the film and new media sectors.

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