SA will host the first African Film Summit as well as the General Congress of the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI) in Johannesburg from 3 to 6 April 2006. Over 150 delegates will meet in the city to continue dialogue towards the streamlining of policies, strategies and activities that are aimed at developing the African Audio Visual industry.
Eddie Mbalo, CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation NFVF of SA, says: "It is a great honour for us as South Africans to host an event of such magnitude. In recognition of the role that the audio visual media can play in the African Renaissance, it is our contribution to the development and growth of the film industry within the continent.
"Among the key expected outputs of the Summit are proposals on a way forward on how to begin the implementation process on various instruments, motions, proposals, declarations and resolutions made and signed by the African Union in respect of the place of film in the agenda for sustainable growth and development of the Cultural Industries across the continent."
Dr Pallo Jordan Minister of Arts and Culture (South Africa) says: "We hope this initiative will assist in bringing African Filmmakers together to engage towards the development of a common policy for film and towards crafting a strategy that will inform NEPAD and the African Union."
Lebone Maema Project Manager for the Summit says: "The weaknesses of the African audiovisual industry are well known and well documented.
"Our industry is fragmented; we have a weak industrial base and a tradition of limited state support and protection for the companies and individuals operating in the sector. More importantly, our audiences just do not get to see our films.
"The Summit is an opportunity to consolidate the historic, political, economic and practical challenges and successes over the last 50 years, and to develop common solutions to major challenges facing the industry."
