15 November 2010: The National Film and Video Foundation welcomes the unequivocal statement of commitment to supporting the development and growth of the film industry by the new Minister of Arts and Culture Mr. Paul Mashatile.
In an exclusive interview with City Press, Minister Mashatile said, "We must get the National Film (and Video) Foundation to create employment opportunities for many young people in that sector. There is no reason why we can't get to the standard of Hollywood or Bollywood. Supporting the film sector is one of my major priorities."
The sentiment by the minister is in line with the aspirations of the industry programme of Action as articulated in the NFVF blueprint the Value Charter that says that “the industry must move from a low volume and low margin base to high volume and high margin base.” The NFVF has always stated that in order to create sustainable businesses and therefore sustainable jobs, South Africa needs to consistently produce at least 15 - 20 film annually if it is to claim the existence of an industry.
The NFVF is excited that this statement from the minister comes at the back of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Review report that has proposes for the provision of additional support to the NFVF to strengthen the South African film industry. The MTEF Review report states, "These allocations will help to upgrade skills and increase local employment.” “Savings within the Department of Arts and Culture are reprioritised for this purpose" the statement concluded.
The statement from the MTEF review report is as a result of the NFVF's intervention in approaching National Treasury in July 2010 as part of its lobby at the beginning of the MTEF Review process.
The outgoing NFVF CEO, reacting to the Minister's statement said, "This is exciting news, I would not have had a better send off than this. I think I have done my job and it is up to those that will come after to keep the momentum".
Mr. Mbalo will leave the NFVF at the end of the financial year in March 2011.
