First Chinese Film Week in SA

To be hosted by the Department of Arts and Culture in association with the National Film and Video Foundation, the delegation will meet with key players in the South African film Industry, visit facility houses and meet with educationalists from leading Gauteng film schools.

Following a cultural agreement with China signed in 2000, a second 'programme of cooperation' (POC) designed to spearhead cultural relations and exchanges between the two countries was signed in 2002. Since then, various cultural exchanges in different arts disciplines have taken place both in SA and China.

In October 2002, the NFVF signed a memorandum of understanding with India and paved the way for the forging of new relationships with countries interested in doing film business with South Africa. On this occasion the Chinese have particular interest in the burgeoning South African animation industry and its world-class technological resources.

Khalipha Eddie Mbalo, CEO: NFVF said: "It is through sharing experiences with countries with similar economic and development profiles such as ours, that strategic alliances for the benefit of the industry practitioners can be developed. This visit will provide opportunity for the Chinese to gain insight into the merits and growth areas in the South African film industry and vice-versa.

"It is important for policy makers to interact at ground level and that through bodies like the NFVF, industry players can actively influence government to government agreements regarding the film industry. It is a national moral imperative to enhance democratic ideals through the expression of our own unique South African images. Clearly, the film and video industry has a key role to play in achieving this objective", he continued.

The delegation will visit Johannesburg and Cape Town where industry meetings will be facilitated by the Gauteng Film Office and the Cape Film Commission.

Next week, film director Mr Ning Jinwu whose film Silent River is being screened during the festival will visit NEMISA (the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa) to deliver a lecture to film students from various film educational institutions in Johannesburg.

As part of the cultural exchange, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Dr B S Ngubane has been invited to visit China next year. Plans are also afoot for a South African film festival to be hosted in China in 2003.