NFVF Official Statement
PRESS RELEASE
The NFVF officially denounces the South African Film Commission and states there was no consultation between Dennis Lillie and the NFVF
The National Film and Video Foundation has learned with great shock the news of the registration and establishment of the South African Film Commission by CEO of Cape Film Commission( CFC) Denis Lillie.
The NFVF distances itself from the utterances of Mr. Lillie, who in his statement, claims that he has been provided permission by the NFVF, Department of Trade and Industry( DTI) and Department of Arts and Culture( DAC) to start such a Commission.
In his statement to members of the Cape Film Commission, Mr. Lillie suggests that the he has“ been having discussions with various agencies and entities across SA over the past 12-18 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 and is not in talks with CFC and Mr. Lillie regarding the establishment
Zama Mkosi
of the South African Film Commission with them.
The establishment of a South African film commission is the responsibility and falls under the ambit of the DAC and the NFVF as the agency of the DAC responsible for the film industry in South Africa. In his statement during the release of the economic baseline study on May 10th 2013, Minister Paul Mashatile said the“ government will use the study to strengthen the work already being done to provide increased and sustained support for the industry.” The Minister further said the DAC is currently“ in the process of converting or re-structuring the NFVF into a fully-fledged 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 DAC are currently following appropriate parliamentary channels to amend the relevant legislation in order to give effect to such proposed changes.
NFVF’ s CEO Ms Zama Mkosi had this to say,“ It is unfortunate that CFC and Mr. Lillie have decided to hijack the process thereby misleading the industry. 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 NGO or any other private entity.”.
For enquiries Naomi Mokhele- naomim @ nfvf. co. za
38 | WGSA MAG June 2013