Is the new South African Film Commission a fraud?
by THINUS FERREIRA
NFVF shocked at creation of South African Film Commission; says Cape Film Commission CEO‘ hijacked’ a process.
The National Film and Video Foundation( NFVF) is shocked at news over the apparent establishment of a South African Film Commission( SAFC)- but one not created by parliament and through the department of arts and culture as is currently underway.
The NFVF is upset with the Cape Film Commission’ s( CFC) CEO, Denis Lillie, saying claims by him that the NFVF, the department of trade and industry, and the department of arts and culture provided permission to start such a commission is not true. The NFVF in a statement says that Denis Lillie“ decided to hijack the process thereby misleading the industry”.
Yesterday I reported on the surprising creation of the South African Film Commission( SAFC) which has been created and registered as an independent and non-profit organisation with the aim to help, serve and promote South Africa’ s growing film industry.
The newly created organisation was careful to explain that it will not replace the Gauteng Film Commission, KZN Film Commission, the Cape Town Film Commission, the Durban Film Office or other film promotion offices in South Africa but will work as a broad, national body to supplement on a national level what these existing offices are doing
Denis Lillie
for film and television production work in South Africa.
The NFVF reacted in anger, lashing out at Denis Lillie, who is the CEO of the Cape Town Film Commission, saying that the NFVF“ has learned with great shock the news of the registration and establishment of the South African Film Commission by Cape Town Film Commission’ s Denis Lillie.”
“ The NFVF distances itself from the utterances of Denis Lillie, who in his statement, claims that he has been provided permission by the NFVF, department of trade and industry and department of arts and culture to start such a commission.”
“ In his statement to members of the Cape Film Commission, Denis Lillie suggests that the he has been having discussions with various agencies and entities across South Africa over the past 12 to 18 months.”
“ These included discussions with representatives from DAC, NFVF, the National Lotteries Board, the DTI and others and tabled a proposed South African Film Commission some time ago, and again at Cannes in 2012, with the NFVF CEO. He further states that he believes his commission would complete the NFVF and film commissions mandates.”
“ This statement is far from the truth and the NFVF would like to emphasise that it has never been
36 | WGSA MAG June 2013