Filming incentives are offered by the Department of Trade and Industry, Industrial Development Corporation, National Film and Video Foundation and South African Revenue Service.
South Africa offers attractive incentive schemes, including those offered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF). The South African Revenue Services (Sars) also offers a tax rebate.
Department of Trade and Industry
The DTI offers incentives to increase local content generation and improve location competitiveness for foreign film productions.
The incentives are:
- Foreign Film & Television Production Incentive, to attract foreign-based film productions to shoot on location in South Africa.
- The South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive, which aims to assist local film producers in the production of local content.
Visit the DTI website for more information.
Industrial Development Corporation
The IDC offers the following financing facilities:
- Equity Investment, involving direct investment into a project in the form of ordinary and/or preference equity ownership and participation of up to 49% (minority interest), as the IDC does not seek control or direct management participation.
- Commercial Loan/Debt Finance. Term loans up to six years are structured to fit the business cash flow profile (i.e. asset-based finance and working capital). Owners’ contribution required for adequate financial structuring of the project.
- Venture Loans (quasi-equity). Minority interest in high-risk ventures with high financial returns and developmental impact.
- Funding of R1-million or more is available from the IDC.
Due to the complex nature of some of the above funding and tax schemes it is advisable that a tax advisor be consulted.
Visit the IDC website for more information.
National Film and Video Foundation
The NFVF will consider funding support for the production of films and documentaries, either through repayable loans or grants. NFVF funding is primarily as an investment and the foundation recoups its expenditure on delivery of the finished product.
In the case of a co-production, recoupment applies only to the South African distribution component. If a product is not completed, the NFVF reserves the right to be reimbursed. Only South African owned production companies with reasonable experience may apply for production funding in the genres of documentaries, feature films, short and specialised film and video productions, pilot of a television series with broadcast commitment or animation and multimedia projects with an audiovisual component.
The NFVF also accepts applications for funding in the areas of education and training; development; and marketing and distribution.
Visit the NFVF website for more information.
South African Revenue Service Tax Rebate
Due to the complex nature of some of the above funding and tax schemes it is advisable that a tax advisor be consulted.