Cape Film Imbizo kicks off with Reshaping Media conf

The Cape Film Imbizo aims to strategically align and comprehensively integrate efforts of the various key industry players and promote interactive dialogue to advance the production of film in the region. The conference aims to unpack and bring together thought-leaders and decision-makers in the fields of advertising and broadcasting, to examine the latest developments and challenges facing advertising and media agencies in a modern and over-communicated digital world where consumers have become over empowered. Bizcommunity.com is a media partner.

Local and International speakers will deliver various presentations on issues ranging from marketing opportunities (social networking and user generated content), branded entertainment (the brand, the agency, the broadcaster and the producer) and mobile content and mobile marketing (what will people watch).

Discussion forums

The Cape Film Commission will also lead numerous discussion forums in partnership with other government-funded organisations such as the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business to discuss and engage film makers on issues that affect the development and sustainability of film making as a strategic and sustainable business in the province.

These forums will also look at the various film funding and distribution opportunities and, more importantly, opportunities within the 2010 FIFA World Cup for local filmmakers, especially on key areas like service and content development.

Dr Marcia Socikwa from ICASA will also lead a key discussion on the various issues related to the four newly licensed broadcasters, what impact will they have on the state of competition in the broadcasting industry, issues of broader accessibility for the masses, regulations on the commissioning of Local Content and broadcasting opportunities around the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Skills development and training

The Cape Film Commission's Training and Development unit will also present and host a discussion forum of findings from a research it commissioned. This skills development and training forum will also seek to align academic and training institutions with the industry to collectively determine the needs of the industry and how these institutions can service the industry effectively.

The commission will also officially launch its environmentally friendly strategy that is intended to see it become a leading film commission globally taking a strong and positive stand on environmental issues, thus influencing and encouraging local filmmakers to go green and leave a light foot print on our environment when filming in and around communities.

The imbizo will conclude with the launch of the First Cape Town Film Awards, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town, to celebrate those in the industry so seldom recognised for their outstanding work. The awards will also feature an auction from Art with Hearts with the proceeding donated to two key film charities, The Heart of Healing and Hollywood Heart.

A post press conference, to be held at Imbizo Lounge in Langa Township, will report back on any resolutions taken by delegates at the imbizo. More details will follow.

• The Cape Film Commission (www.capefilmcommission) is the official representative of the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Province for the economic development, marketing and promotion of the region's film industry. The Cape Film Commission combines the film-related interests of the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape under an independent autonomous organisation. The Cape Film Commission's main objective is to position both the city and the province as a globally competitive film region, thereby boosting tourism, job creation and the development of core skills.