Pretoria - About 20 emerging South African filmmakers will showcase their expertise and potentially sell their projects to various buyers and also promote the country’s attractiveness as a film destination of international standards.
Led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (dti), Mzwandile Masina, the group will present their projects at the 68th Annual Cannes International Film Festival, taking place in Cannes, France, until Sunday.
The Deputy Minister said the participation of South African filmmakers at Cannes is part of the department’s strategy to create access to local film and video products, promote an increase in the volume of film production among countries, and provide exposure for the emerging film makers to the international film and production market.
South Africa’s growing reputation as a desired filming destination will thus bring with it many advantages of becoming a global filming hotspot, he said.
“Through promoting South Africa as an international destination to attract further international productions and in encouraging the generation of local content production, the country will continue to enjoy the benefits of a vibrant and growing film industry.”
The film and television sector has been identified as one of the priority sectors within the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) due to its ability to promote increased investment, job creation and skills transfer.
“This sector is an important generator of foreign earnings for the country. It contributed approximately R3.5 billion into the economy last year and created more than 25 000 jobs in the country,” Deputy Minister Masina said.
The Cannes International Film Festival is an annual film conference which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries from around the world. - SAnews.gov.za
