Pretoria – The film industry needs to critically look at existing spaces for the viewing of local films, says Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
Minister Mthethwa was addressing film industry stakeholders on Wednesday on how to create an enabling environment where film entrepreneurs can flourish.
He called the meeting after exhibitors decided to reduce the number of screens and performing sites at which the local romantic comedy film Tell Me Sweet Something, directed by Akin Omotoso, is being shown.
The film did well in its first three weeks and reached R1 million in its first five days of release.
In its third week, the screens of the movie were reduced from 47 to 27.
“Box office performance is affected by the number of screens allocated to local film in comparison with the number of screens for imported films, and there are also a range of additional strategies in partnership with distributors that need to be examined,” Minister Mthethwa said.
He said if South Africa cannot create spaces to show local content in which the stories are told, then the stories may cease to exist.
“We need more stories and more opportunities to occupy more spaces to deepen the African worldview of our people,” he said.
In 2013, the creative industries contributed R90.5 billion to the economy and created over 500 000 direct and indirect jobs.
“This shows that the creative economy is a significant force and has great potential to do even better,” Minister Mthethwa said.
He said local content has proven its popularity and resonates especially with South Africa television audiences.
Minister Mthethwa encouraged film industry stakeholders to come up with ways in which local content can be sustained in the market and plans to improve marketing for local films.
“The film industry has shown itself as vibrant and growing and competitive, and this is testimony of the good work done by producers, filmmakers and distributors, but much remains to be done.
“Certainly more research and analysis needs to be done to see whether the various incentive schemes for film are effective and how local film can be foregrounded,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
