and is not in talks with CFC and Denis Lillie regarding the establishment of the South African Film Commission with them.”
The NFVF says in the statement that“ the establishment of a South African film commission is the responsibility and falls under the ambit of the department of arts and culture and the NFVF as the agency of the department of arts and culture responsible for the film industry in South Africa.”
The NFVF said the department of arts and culture is currently in the process of converting or restructuring the NFVF into a fullyfledged National Film Commission.
“ This process has commenced with the NFVF having successfully applied to register the trademark“ South African Film Commission” and together with the department of arts and culture are currently following appropriate parliamentary channels to amend the relevant legislation.” Zama Mkosi
“ It is unfortunate that CFC and Denis Lillie have decided to hijack the process thereby misleading the industry,” says Zama Mkosi, the CEO of the NFVF in the statement.
The NFVF says that the establishment of a South African Film Commission will be effected through an act of parliament and“ is the sole responsibility of the department of arts and culture and not of an nongovernmental organisation or any other private entity.”
Denis Lillie says“ although the NFVF state that our statements are far from the truth, these statements from the NFVF conveniently ignore discussions that took place between the Cape Film Commission and the NFVF over 12 to 18 months.”
“ They also ignore the discussions and email exchanges between the department of arts and culture ministry and the Cape Film Commission between June and October 2012 and beyond where the CFC initially tabled a proposal
for a national film commission to complement the NFVF.”
Dennis Lillie says the Cape Film Commission was“ subsequently encouraged by the department of arts and culture to progress the proposal through interactions with the NFVF. These emails confirmed discussions the CFC had with the NFVF in June 2012 over the creation of a national film commission.”
“ Traditionally the CFC has worked with the department of trade and industry on film related matters as the department of trade and industry is the agency for economic growth, investment and job creation in the film sector.”
“ Our understanding from the NFVF mandate is that they are in part mandated to promote South African culture though film. The role of a Film Commission is partly to promote South Africa as a film making territory to both local and international filmmakers, hence the complementary process between both agencies.”.
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