Premier Shilowa opens the Gauteng Film Indaba

In his opening address Premier Shilowa said:

"We are gathered her today as government and various role players in the filmmaking and motion pictures industry to explore the things that we can do together to fully exploit the many opportunities that Gauteng offers for the filmmaking and motion picture industry. Together we need to understand some of the challenges facing the small and independent film producers.

"A few years ago the Gauteng Provincial Government embarked upon a bold initiative to radically shift the economic trajectory of this province to achieve higher growth rates and boost sustainable job creation. Our main objective was to work in partnership with the private sector to create an enabling environment for increased investment in the most productive sectors of the economy.

"We correctly identified key growth sectors which had the greatest potential to contribute immensely to Gauteng's gross geographic product and South Africa's GDP and, together with business, we agreed on the necessary interventions that needed to be made to strengthen and grow the sectors.

"Over the past few years we have seen impressive progress towards achieving our objectives of higher economic growth rates. We have seen increased investments in the economy of our province. Every day we are attracting new businesses to the province. Some of the world's acclaimed companies are choosing Gauteng as the place in which to do business. They are doing so because they are convinced that the Gauteng Provincial Government is doing the right things to increase the global competitiveness of this province and make it attractive to investors and world-class manufacturers.

"Filming and motion pictures is one of the industries that have been identified as having the potential to contribute immensely to the GGP growth. The Gauteng Provincial Government fully recognises the role of this highly profitable industry in the growth of our economy and in creating sustainable employment for the people of our province.

"More than 70% of the filming and television industry in South Africa are based in Gauteng, mainly in Johannesburg. All of South Africa's television broadcasters are based in Johannesburg.

"We may not know all the reasons which compel the key players in the filmmaking and television industry to choose Gauteng as their home, but we are pretty sure that their decision was influenced by the many factors which make Gauteng an attractive location for filming and television productions.

"Economic statistics have shown at all times that Gauteng is the economic powerhouse of South Africa and the continent. According to figures released by Statistics South Africa last year, the province recorded an average real economic growth rate of 5,3% in 2002. The GGP has been growing at an average of 3,1% over the period 1996 to 2002. Gauteng's contribution to South Africa's GDP during 2002 was 33,3%, the largest of all provinces.

"Gauteng is the most cosmopolitan province in South Africa. With its more than 9 million residents comprising a colourful variety of races, Gauteng can easily be regarded as a true sample of Africa's population and, to a large extent, the world's population.

"In this province there are diverse and some of the most spectacular locations for filming that can be found in the world. Our range of locations can easily offer filmmakers locations such as the African bush, industrial scenery, American and European settings. Key activities during the antiapartheid struggle took place in Gauteng.

"Some of the other things which make Gauteng very attractive to filmmakers and television production companies are:

* Highly skilled workforce including technicians
* World class facilities. These include well-established and equipped postproduction digital facilities as well as audio, graphics and animation houses
* State of the art rental equipment
* Highly developed infrastructure
* Highly efficient service providers
* Facilitators highly knowledgeable in the issues related to industry
* Compatible time zone with Europe
* Excellent weather, providing sunshine all year round and
* Sites of struggle under apartheid

"There are many more good reasons why filmmakers should choose Gauteng as the suitable location for their productions. There are highly skilled and experienced people in this room who know a lot more than I do about the filming and television production industry. They will speak more about the benefits of filming and television productions in Gauteng. Since I am just a politician I will stick to what politicians and governments can do.

"One of the things that contribute most significantly to the growth of the filming and television industry in this province is the commitment by the Gauteng Provincial Government to support the industry. Three years ago we formed the Gauteng Film Office so that we could understand the specific needs of the industry and work with its key role players to further develop it and ensure that it contributes to economic growth and job creation.

"In the short time that it has been in existence, the Gauteng Film Office has made great strides towards making Gauteng the preferred location for filming and television productions. Through the work of the Gauteng Film Office our province has over the past three years hosted film productions worth more than R500 million.

"You all should know about the movie "Stander", which was the largest local feature film production ever to be produced in South Africa.

"The other films that were shot in Gauteng in the recent years include Platinum, Flight of the Phoenix, Beserker, Soldiers of the Rock and Queen's messenger II.

"Many of our people including technicians, service providers, equipment suppliers and vehicle rental companies, hotels, telecommunications companies, actors and producers have benefited significantly from all the films that were shot in the province.

"Hotel Rwanda is the most recent and the best success story of the Gauteng Film Office. With investment from the IDC and The NFVF, the film was a tri-partite production between South Africa, Italy and the United Kingdom.

"The value of the production was estimated at $170 million, with over R60 million rand been spent in Gauteng alone and an estimated production crew of 350, with background extras up to 8000. This shows the impact of just one production in the province. From pre-production to production, the film enlisted the services of landscapers, construction companies (to re-create the Hotel situated in Kigali, Rwanda), hotels, transportation, telecommunications, security, catering and dry cleaning. The multiplier effect is for every dollar invested, two and half dollar is generated. The film has now made the top eight list of films that buyers were looking for at the American Film Market in February, which brings together well over 300 films to be sold annually.

"Hotel Rwanda has proved once more that our skills pool and talent are indeed world class. Its success is one of the good reasons for filmmakers to look no further than Gauteng when searching for a filming location.

"The amount of filming and television production work that Gauteng has been able to generate over the past few years is impressive. However, we believe that there is still much to be done for us to reach our full potential in the area of filming and television productions. It is for this reason that we have convened this meeting so that together, government and key role players in the filming and television industry, we can unlock the full potential of the industry in the province to contribute to the growth of the economy and job creation.

"I am sure that all of you have come to this important gathering because you share our vision to make Gauteng the hive of filming and television productions. During the conference we will look at specific issues related to the industry and find ways in which we can co-operate to make Gauteng a dream location for filming and television productions.

"The Gauteng Provincial Government is ready to play its part towards achieving this vision. We are ready to act on the important outcomes that are to emerge out of the deliberations of this conference. With the active support of the key role players in the industry we can realise our shared vision.

"I wish this important conference success in its efforts to make Gauteng the preferred location for filming and television productions."