Page 42 - KZN Film Annual Report 2023/2024

KWAZULU-NATAL FILM COMMISSION
NAME OF ISD PROGRAMME
N0. OF PARTICIPANTS
MALE
FEMALE
YOUTH
DISABILITY
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
NQF LEVEL 4 LEARNERSHIP- UMZIMKHULU
27
6
21
25
0
HARRY GWALA
The Film Industry Transformation Initiative (FITI)
The Film Industry Transformation Initiative (FITI) is designed to equip KZN graduates with practical skills on set and location. Despite having knowledge about the film industry upon leaving university, graduates often lack technical skills, which makes it difficult for them to secure employment opportunities. FITI aims to bridge this gap by offering an intensive, one-year on-set workplace skills transfer programme where graduates work alongside production companies to create high-quality broadcast content.
After a successful pilot programme, FITI launched a dedicated training programme and manual in the 2023/24 financial year. Year 1 of this programme began in March 2023, with the first classes commencing in May 2023. Unfortunately, there were issues with the performance of the contracted service provider, which resulted in the termination of the contract. As a result, KZNFILM will provide graduates with work experience by placing them on productions in the new financial year.
Animation Strategy
This strategy aims to promote and encourage a thriving culture of animation throughout the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province. This will be achieved by developing a strong network of partners and an ecosystem, introducing innovations in production methods and value chain, exploring diverse animation techniques, offering accessible training, and providing business development support.
The implementation of this strategy will focus on creating opportunities for success, promoting real transformation, and bridging the digital divide. By the end of five years, the strategy aims to position KZN as a prime location and economic driver for original African animated content, taking advantage of the province’s unique cultural richness. This will be supported by service work and co-production, strong links with the tourism industry, the rapidly growing gaming industry, and creative use of emerging technologies like Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Cluster
Strategic partnerships (MOUs)
In a quest to assist the industry by bringing down the costs, KZNFilm enter into partnerships through MoUs with various industry stakeholders who in return offer filmmakers discounts when they use their services. This is a form of incentivising the industry to come to the province. These industry stakeholders/ companies vary from catering, transport, accommodation, etc. Some of the key stakeholders that the entity processed MoUs with during the financial year were the following:-
NAME OF ISD PROGRAMME
N0. OF PARTICIPANTS
MALE
FEMALE
YOUTH
DISABILITY
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
FITI PROGRAMME
20
5
15
20
1
ETHEKWINI
Company name
Services
Dingo Dawg PTY Ltd
Emergency services uniform
SAA
Flight services
PG-MQS-STOAS
Security and transport
Paragon
Van, car, and truck rental
Raddison Blu
Hotel services
ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024 40