Filmmakers flock to Sou Africa

Just a few weeks into the new year there has been a 20% increase in the number of inquiries received by the Cape Film Commission. In the last six months of 2014, the commission assisted in 30 major productions which boosted coffers by about R2.5-billion. Rob Lowe, Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Tye Sheridan are some of the big names set to shoot in South Africa this year as the country's reputation as a film destination grows. by Taschica Pillay

Eye in the Sky with Helen Mirren and Colin Firth recently wrapped up shooting in South Africa, while British actor Kenneth Branagh is filming an episode of the hit British series, Wallander, in Cape Town.

Other productions scheduled this year include Apocalypse Slough, starring Lowe, which is also being shot in Malta and the UK; Disney's Queen of Katwe, which will star Nyong'o, the Oscar-winning Kenyan actress, and Selma star Oyelowo; and the psychological thriller Detour, starring Sheridan. Denis Lillie, CEO of the film commission, said it was aware of 15 major productions in the pipeline.

There are 20 major TV shows from various countries such as Denmark, Germany, India, the US and Australia. Lots of Bollywood shoots are coming through . . . as well as a lot of reality shows and commercials from India.

This week I received inquiries from Paris, London, Berlin and New York from people wanting to knows it has been filmed here. He said apart from the Cape Town Film Studio, about six other studios have popped up. A lot of sets were being built outdoors as well. We have had interest from Australia and the US about building new studio complexes here, funded privately. And there's talk about a major animation studio and TV production studio to be developed here, said Lillie.

Lilian Baksalevowicz, filmmaker and CEO of FilmContact, a platform for professional filmmakers in South Africa, said co-production treaties with Canada, Germany, Italy, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland benefited the production partners in the form of a 35% cash rebate for the first R6-million spent and 25% for the remainder of the local spend.

South Africa offers internationally competitive film incentives of 20% for foreign productions with a budget of R12- million or more that can be increased to 22.5% if post-production also takes place locally, said Baksalevowicz.

Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office, said the organisation was excited by the rapid increase in international productions. Hopefully it will be sustained. The future is looking bright.

The Sunday Times http://www.timeslive.co.za/

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