The Capetonian film industry is about to launch a new website in partnership with the City of Cape Town and a number of stakeholders in the television, animation, advertising and gaming sectors. The online platform, called Film Cape Town, will enable users to conduct online business and obtain permits with greater ease.
The last year has been a tough challenge for the Cape film industry, which has prompted the City of Cape Town to offer its support and to act as a catalyst for change. Some of the challenges facing the industry include a lack of transformation, bureaucratic processes and difficulties in obtaining permission at various locations.
“This financial year we introduced no tariff increases for the film industry and the City is committed to looking at all possibilities including a zero-based tariff for the next two seasons,” says Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille.
“Another commitment is the City’s determination to unlock more locations to shoot. This industry is not just about showbiz and glam, it is a key part of our economy as it has created many jobs for residents,” she explains.
Cape Town film industry has battled recently
Film Cape Town will feature all of the city’s beautiful and unique locations in the hopes of inspiring local and international film directors to use the city as a backdrop. The online portal will also showcase Cape Town’s talent pool of actors, filmmakers, artists and creatives.
The Cape Town Film Commission announced in 2016 that they would be closing down due to a lack of funding and support. The commission’s 15-year tenure came to an end and severely affected the film industry in the process.
Just one year prior to the shutdown of the commission, the City of Cape Town said that the film industry contributed around R3.5-billion to the local economy and was accountable for over 10 000 jobs. Since the closure, the industry has experienced a 40% drop in the number of film productions.
Film Cape Town should revive the industry
The launch of Film Cape Town will hopefully breathe some life back into the industry by giving filmmakers access to funding and make it easier to source better locations for films.
“We are pleased about this. We held a two-day workshop back in July and it was a great way for us to address the key issues facing our industry and the City has finally heard our cry. We hope that this will take us where we want to be in the next few years,” says the Callsheet publishing editor Lance Gibbons.
The launch of the online platform will come just after the city hosts the 2018 Cape Town International Film Market and Festival (CTIFMF), which runs from 9 to 19 October at the V&A Waterfront. The CTIFMF will showcase over 80 full-length feature films, 20 documentaries and 66 short films.
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