The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has announced its latest partnership. The NFVF will join forces Netflix, the world’s leading streaming service with 204 million subscribers globally in a partnership valued at R28 million to produce six South African feature films. The joint fund will see both partners contributing R14 million each in support of the production of local films, which will include exclusive debuts on Netflix.
The NFVF, mandated to ensure the equitable growth of the audio-visual industry in South Africa, is excited to form this partnership, as it looks to create new opportunities for emerging filmmakers in the local film industry after many productions locally and internationally had to be halted/postponed due Covid-19 global lockdowns. The partnership will see 6 local films funded, categorised into 2 streams: 4 feature films with a budget of R4 million each and two feature films with a budget of R6 million each.
● Stream 1: Four Feature Films by emerging filmmakers capped at R4 000 000
● Stream 2: Fictional Feature Films by established filmmakers capped at R6 000 000
The funding for the films will alleviate the pressure filmmakers face to raise additional funding and boost recovery of the creative industry from the pandemic, whilst ensuring job creation. All 6 films created from this fund will premiere on Netflix first.
We are excited as the NFVF to be partnering with Netflix and appreciate their investment into local content. The incorporation of digital platforms into our traditional processes can only benefit the industry further. We hope this is simply the start in what will no doubt be a long and fruitful relationship.
Makhosazana Khanyile, NFVF’s Chief Executive Officer
The past year has been incredibly difficult with the pandemic hitting so many industries around the world. The creative community, that we are a part of, has supported us through the good times so we want to help them continue to create the stories our members love through the $1 million Covid Relief Fund contribution we started last year in collaboration with SASFED and IPO to help below-the-line workers in South Africa’s creative industry and now, we’re excited to take this a step further with this joint fund with NFVF for above-the-line talent.
Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s Director of Content in Africa
The submission portal will go live on the 1st of April 2021. We encourage all filmmakers in accordance with the eligibility criteria to apply by visiting https://nfvf.praxisgms.co.za/ from the 1st of April 2021.More details will be available at www.nfvf.co.za or @nfvfsa on all social media platforms.
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