UK Trade Delegation visit South Africa to promote co-operation in Film development and production.
A senior level delegation of film Producers and film businesses led by Dapo Oshiyemi, Executive Director of Talking Drum Entertainment were hosted in Durban, South Africa by the KZN Film Commission for a five day programme of presentations, meetings, workshops and location tours with their South African counterparts.
The mission attracted some 50 participants consisting of South African Producers, financial institutions, Distributors, Sales Agents, Government departments and agencies all interested in co-producing films with UK Partners. There was also an in-depth session on filmmaking for young, up and coming South African Producers.
The programme had presentations and discussions on the film Industries in the UK and South Africa, workshops and seminars on Co-Production, Sales, Distribution and Funding & Finance plus location tours which resulted in five film projects formally committing to producing their films using the UK/South African Co-production treaty.
Dapo Oshiyemi said: I started visiting South Africa several years ago and was quite surprised to find so much scope for co-operation in film development and production which was under exploited despite the UK’s strong historical, language, cultural, economic and political ties, so I am delighted we have reached an important milestone in this initiative by having five films in the process of becoming official UK/South African co-productions, its more than I could have ever hoped for in such a short space of time”.
Jackie Motsepe of the Film Commission said: This initiative is seeing fruition and shows signs of bearing fruit. The partnership with the UK has shown so much potential, scope and opportunity for films to be filmed in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. It was encouraging to see the support from the South African production community and the national funding bodies. The potential for the development of skills and creation of jobs is evident as all the producers both UK and South African are keen to support the development of skills in the province. This is yet another initiative that will position KwaZulu-Natal as a partner in film.
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FOLLOW UP EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Following on from the trade mission we will hold The 2nd UK/South African Film Finance and Co-production Forum in London on the 11th October, 2018 details will be announced shortly.