South Africa has a growing, vibrant film industry that is increasingly becoming competitive internationally. Local and foreign filmmakers take advantage of the country’s unique and diverse locations – as well as low production costs and favourable exchange rates.
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| The leading actor in Tsotsi, Presley Tshweneyagae |
The movie “Tsotsi” is the jewel in this industry’s crown, a drama about a young gangsterin Soweto, won an Academy Award for best foreign language film in 2006. The award came on the heels of an Oscar nomination for “Yesterday”, a story about a struggling HIV-positive mother, and “U Carmen E Khayalitsha”, a Xhosa-language film which won the Golden Bear award at the 2005 Berlin Film Festival, has cemented South Africa’s reputation for creative, quality film making.
Building on this reputation, a string of successful big budget international productions have been filmed in South Africa:
· Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio
· Lord of War with Nicholas Cage. Lord of War showcases South Africa’s breath-taking locations – with Cape Town appearing as 57 different settings in the Middle East.
TELLING AFRICAN STORIES:
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| Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond |
South Africa consists of a long history in the film industry. It began with the shooting of the first-ever newsreels during the Anglo-Boer War. “African Mirror”, the weekly cinema newsreel was launched in 1913 and ran until the 1980s. South Africa’s first feature film, “The Kimberly Diamond Robbery”, was also shot in 1910.
The government has stressed the importance of film in building the country’s heritage by telling its own stories, and has set about providing an “enabling regulatory framework” to encourage the production of local content.
NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FOUNDATION:
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) helps the industry access funds, promotes the development of South African film and television audiences, develops talent and skills in the country – with a special emphasis on previously disadvantaged group- and helps filmmakers represent and market their work internationally.
Weldone to the guys who are trying by all means to put South Africa at the fore front but one problem I have is how they usually use inernational actors to play roles in films that hold great value to the countries history and us South Africans.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's one thing that needs to be changed. South African actors should be used to play roles of films that tell the stories of ordinary South Africans.
DeleteSouth africa is without doubt a growing, vibrant film industry. have you heard about Zambezia the new south african 3d animation feature film?. I love how the NFVF helps promote South African development! come on South Africa we can make it to producing world class film
ReplyDeleteWhat the NFVF is truly doing is exceptional and to the advantage of South Africa. Well done to them.
DeleteSouth Africa has the potential to produce films that will be broadcasted internationally ,with the help of NFVF great things are about to happen
ReplyDeleteAnd I like the fact that it is a South African foundation helping South Africans achieve a great deal of films in South Africa and then help them market the films internationally.
DeleteSA Realy produce intresting filims what i like about them they are realy telling a story about our country.
ReplyDeleteYes they do, and all these stories are true, they are not just any stories someone thought of.
DeleteI have to say that the NFVF is really doing a good job by uplifting our film industry, home made movies are the best.
ReplyDeleteNFVF should continue to help push the film industry further so that South African stories continue to be shared all over the world, as they portray truth, reality and are very educational.
ReplyDeletethe NFVF is really good bcause it ceattes opportunitis for South Aricans because most of the young upcoming actors need this opportuniy as the industry is taugh
ReplyDeleteNFVF is doing a great job and all the South Africans are proud of what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteNFVF reflects the South African culture and language to both local and international audiences by telling AFRICAN stories an if you can take a deeper look they make local content and production to be more interesting through their work. With them helping filmmakers optimize their work to different continents I think they are doing good and I think that it's less and fewer films that are internationally from south africa, which is the opposite when it comes to us supporting them
ReplyDeletemzanzi SA love local movies and i think NFVF is doing a great job
ReplyDeleteSouth African movies are developing very year. It great to see the likes of our Terry Pheto becoming international stars. Mzansi has got talent.
ReplyDeleteWell Vincent has a point, we shouldn't be allowing international actors to take main roles while we have our own talented actors.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the NfVF is doing a good job by working with South African actors or creating films based on South Africa, but not when international actors take the lead roles all the time. It is good exposure but it comes at a price.
ReplyDeleteNFVF is really doing a great job, we really should stop being so supportive to international movies and underestimating our own original and home made wonderful movies.
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa produce good movies and NFVF is really doing a good job however we should start supporting our local movies.
ReplyDeletesouth africa do produce good movies i think the only problems is the choice of actors more especially on movies made in shouth africa by international movie companies like making a movie of Mandela they should use our very own actors because they can do the job so well to and this will encourage them to give more in the industry
ReplyDeleteYes that is something that needs to be worked on. We can't rely on international actors when we have our very own best actors and actresses.
DeleteSouth African produced movies are good especially comedy movies, though we still need to improve on our action movies
ReplyDeleteSlowly but surely, we will get there.
DeleteSouth African film industry is still growing the bad thing is that some of us as South Africans do not support local production instead we support international films.
ReplyDeleteTrue, we'd rather go for international even though local is lekker.
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