Tag Archives: Makhosazana Khanyile

Netflix backs $1.9m SA film deal

News, , , ,

Global streaming platform Netflix has partnered with Johannesburg-based National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) to invest US$1.9m in the production of South African micro-budget feature films.

Ben Amadasun

The move is aimed at supporting the South African film industry’s recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as alleviate the pressure filmmakers face in raising additional funding and ensure job creation.

SA publication Business Tech noted that each partner will contribute R14m (US$950,000) towards the production of local films that will receive exclusive debuts on Netflix.

The partnership will entail the funding of six local films including four by emerging filmmakers with budgets capped at R4m and two feature films by established filmmakers capped at R6m.

Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s director of content in Africa, said: “The past year has been incredibly difficult with the pandemic hitting so many industries around the world. The creative community that we are a part of has supported us through the good times so we want to help them continue to create the stories our members love. Now we’re excited to take this a step further with this joint fund with NFVF for above-the-line talent.”

NFVF CEO Makhosazana Khanyile added: “The inclusion of digital platforms into our traditional processes can only profit the industry further. We hope that this is a start of a long and fruitful relationship.”

The submission portal for funding will go live on April 1 and all filmmakers can apply here in accordance with the eligibility criteria.

tagged in: , , , ,

Joint Dutch, South African fund launched

News, , , ,

The Netherlands Film Fund and the National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) in South Africa have launched a co-development fund to jointly provide script support for film and documentary projects.

Bero Beyer

The Thuthuka fund aims to support projects that are potentially of high cinematographic quality and of interest to cinema audiences in both the Netherlands and South Africa, as well as to international cinema audiences and film festivals.

A total of four projects will be supported each year in the animated feature film and documentary genres. The annual budget of the fund is €160,000 (US$190,000), with each party contributing half.

Bero Beyer, CEO of the Netherlands Film Fund, said: “The word ‘thuthuka’ means growth and development. We are trying to foster creative collaborations between the South African and Netherlands film teams to develop their ideas.”

Makhosazana Khanyile, CEO of the NFVF, added: “We see this as an opportunity to strengthen the treaty relationship but also enable films from the two countries to have an opportunity to reach global audiences.”

tagged in: , , , ,

NFVF, TikTok award $60k to creators

News, , , ,

The National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) of South Africa and social networking service TikTok have selected the 20 creators who will receive a total of ZAR860,000 (US$60,000) under their Rising Voices initiative.

Makhosazana Khanyile

This follows the first edition of the six-week Rising Voices incubator programme, which aimed to help creators upgrade their skills for content creation.

The financial support will be accompanied by mentorship including content advice, conceptualising support and 10 pieces of content curation for their individual TikTok pages.

Makhosazana Khanyile, CEO of NFVF, said: “The NFVF is proud to have been chosen to partner TikTok on this groundbreaking initiative. The opportunity to mold young content creators into future entrepreneurs who will learn to take advantage of all forms of media and monetise their ideas is one we were happy to support. Congratulations to all the young people that were chosen to take part and we look forward to future collaborations.

“They came! They saw! They created, and continue to create amazing voices. We are proud to have supported TikTok and want to say ‘heita hola’ to the amazing Rising Voices Class of 2021! Now is the time to show the world what you are made of. Congratulations to the 20 Rising Voices grant recipients, who will receive a cash grant of about ZAR860,000 in total.”

As part of the Rising Voices initiative, the selected creators will be tasked with creating a series of paid content and will be given a one-on-one mentoring session to analyse their content plan.

tagged in: , , , ,