New developments at Ugu Film Festival

UGU Film Festival (UGUFF) founder, Senzo Zindela, said KZN Film Commission CEO, Jackie Motsepe's vision that KZN will become the next big thing, has come true. By Precious Gumede

Zindela said D Street Media CEO, Dexter Davis, from the U.S., and one of the festival facilitators, is planning to shoot some parts of his film, The Blue Mauritius in the Ugu District.

UK producers of Ham and The Piper are planning to bring their team to the Ugu Film Festival next year. They attended the festival this year, representing their film, and their decision to send the group here next year is based on their experience on our perfect golden shores. This is a big deal for Ugu Film Festival because it is happening as a result of the festival, said Zindela.

He said the fact that UGUFF now has film producers from beyond our borders, who have identified the South Coast as the ideal location for their productions, means that the game is changing for the better.

The fact that these producers have seen our locations first-hand is an added advantage. Another good thing about the film production is the fact that it has vast job opportunities per film. The employment scope is really good, he said.

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Zindela is working on a new television series which is good news for film makers who should take this as a learning opportunity.

Ugu South Coast Tourism CEO Justin Mackrory said that movie tourism is a critical part of a destination's tourism economy. We are rapidly becoming a shoot' destination of choice and to this end, the KZN Film Commission, and with approval from the MEC [Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs], we are looking at motivating Ugu South Coast Tourism to become the mandated film office for the district.

When it comes to approvals and associated motivations, he said, there is no board that handles it.

Hibiscus Coast Municipality spokesperson, Simon April, said the municipality has an office or section that processes applications and requests by film makers who want to shoot or record their films or movies within Hibiscus Coast, however, its not linked to Ugu Film Festival as it is run by a private entity

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