It’s exactly 20 days until we bid farewell to the year 2020 and what a mixed bag, it has been. Between all the ups and downs of the year, we are still very mindful of what a privilege it is to be still alive and serving the film industry in Gauteng as well as the broader community in South Africa.
I’m tempted to suggest, if one had paid attention to the South African Box Office quarter 1 report, one could have easily drawn a conclusion about the year it was to be. When comparing the country’s gross box office in Q1, the monthly gross vs 2019 figures the mystified picture could have given an indication of the year 2020. But that is just me who thinks like that – and I blame it in being immersed in the magic of the film world.
Not to oversimplify the overwhelming challenges we all faced this year as an industry, but to end the year, as we near the merry season it would be good to reflect on some of the good that the film industry experienced. For one, all aspects of the film and television industry are now open, albeit with limitations and COVID-19 regulations – which is to ensure the safety of everyone. The South African film industry is open to film travellers from all countries.
SA producer duo- Cait Pansegrouw and Elias Ribeiro of Urucu Media had their Lesotho shot film “This Is Not a Burial, it’s a Resurrection” enter the Academy Award race for best international feature film at the 2021 Oscars. The feature film stars the late Mme Mary Thwala Mhlongo and “is the first feature entirely filmed in Lesotho in the Sesotho language with local actors”, reported Variety.
Most of the annual film festivals were able to put together programmes for this year, most going the online route and some taking us back into cinema houses. We were impressed by the local film festivals, young as they are but they understood the concept of keeping the momentum and consistency, Jozi Film Festival (JFF) took place in September, Arise International Film Festival (ARIFF) as well as Joburg Film Festival (JFF) both held events in November. The uncertainty that has taken hold of most of our activities and operations did not deter these organisations.
The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Film desk also opened their offices and were able to fund and support long waiting projects, this was a huge relief for productions that had been in place to have started production earlier in the year. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) yesterday closed on taking in applications for the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP), a R140 million initiative aimed at reviving the audio-visual industry. This is a much-needed benefit for the industry.
Many other organisations developed programmes to support the industry, for example the Documentary Film Association (DFA) read below about their activities during the lockdown). The Commercial Producers Association (CPA and the Independent Producers Organisations also were in the forefront to make sure the industry gain confidence and look beyond the immediate challenges.
In closing this year, at the GFC we are confident that the industry will remain steadfast. We have learnt a lot during this year, the team’s agility has seen months of planning for 2020 programmes change over a few weeks – so we can still be able to serve filmmakers. In keeping with this trend, we have recently opened a further line of communication with the industry, for any clarity seeking matters one can email us at hello@gautengfilm.org.za.
We wish everyone a joyous season over the holidays, keep safe, wear your masks, and keep physical distancing – the corona virus pandemic is still real.
For the love of cinema
Siyabonga