Strong SA presence at the AFCI Locations Expo in LA

On an annual basis, the South African delegation gathers in Los Angeles to market the country as the best film production destination. This year, the focus of the visit will be to unveil the South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive to the global film industry.

Incentive scheme

The film and television co-production incentive scheme was received with excitement from industry professionals, when it was officially launched in South Africa on 31 March by Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mphahlwa. The revised scheme is intended to increase local content generation and improve location competitiveness for foreign film productions in South Africa.

The Durban Film Office has attended the AFCI Locations Trade Show consistently since 2003, as a partner with the NFVF and regional film commissions who promote South Africa as a location for film at this key industry event.

“This year's mission is of great significance, as we will see the launch of the South African Department of Trade & Industry's new Film incentive Scheme, and the Durban Film Office is confident that the new incentive will be received with great interest by the global industry. We are very excited about the new incentive and look forward to creating new partnerships and exploring new film business opportunities for the city.” says Toni Monty, acting CEO of the Durban Film Office.

“AFCI Locations Expo offers us the ideal platform to take ‘Big Ideas, Perfect Locations' to the North American market,” says Jacques Stoltz, GFC's senior manager: marketing

Hold meetings

During their stay in LA, the South African delegation will hold meetings with the Motion Pictures Association of America, which is a body that represents the Hollywood Studios and other industry professionals. The NFVF in partnership with the SA Consulate in Los Angeles and the Gauteng, Cape and Durban film commissions, will host industry professionals at a networking cocktail event. This event will serve as an opportunity for the Dti to present the incentive and for SA delegates to network with other high-ranking, independent filmmakers based in LA.

“We are very encouraged to see the South African participation at the locations expo grow from strength to strength. It is as a result of the consistent marketing of South Africa at this event, that we see more and more Hollywood films finding their way to South Africa. Films such as Blood Diamond, 10 000 BC and Ali come to South Africa largely due to the confidence in the country due efforts such as South Africa's exhibition at this event,” says Jackie Motsepe: head marketing and public affairs.

SA has consistently won first and second prize awards at this exhibition since it first exhibited in 2002. The SA pavilion at the AFCI Locations Expo 2008 is hosted in partnership between the NFVF, Dti, Gauteng Film Commission, Cape Film Commission and Durban Film Office.