Women in Film Indaba 2011 hosted by the National Film and Video Foundation

Photo from the National Film
and Video Foundation Album

Report on the Indaba originally published by the National Film and Video Foundation, 08 September 2011

The National Film and Video Foundation hosted its first Women in Film Indaba in Johannesburg on Monday 05th September. The purpose of the Indaba was to bring together women in the film and television industries to discuss and chart a road map for the empowerment of women in the sector.

NFVF deputy chairperson Zama Mkosi, who facilitated the session, highlighted that the event was an NFVF Council initiative seeking to engage women to come up with issues relevant to the industry. "At the end of our tenure we need to have seen tangible results when it comes the empowerment of women in the film industry," she said.

During her opening remarks, the NFVF Acting Chief Executive Officer, Karen Son thanked the guests for their input, which will assist in coming up with the required strategy. She further said the industry needs to recognize that the realization of all strategic initiatives requires ongoing collaborations and co-operation with government departments, policy and legislation formulation institutions, and other stakeholders. "As the NFVF we are committed to the principles of co-operative and intergovernmental relations," she added.

Women of the Sun's (WOS) - Eve Rantseli and SA Screen Federation (SASFED)’s Thandie Brewer gave presentations. Eve highlighted that research has proven that the industry employs more than 20000 people, of which women don't play a critical role. "In the last six years, out of 20 films made in South Africa, only 6 were directed by women," she said. She encouraged women to collaborate with each other and have screenings of women films. "The world revolves around the audiovisual media therefore women should have a voice and document their lives, events and South African stories," she added.

Thandie Brewer touched on issues of mentorship, revisiting apprenticeship, creating bursaries for women; and thanked the NFVF for the short film competition and slate funding which are targeted in empowering the women.

The NFVF Council Chairperson, Mmabatho Ramagoshi concurred with her deputy Zama Mkosi and stressed that the Council supports the strategy that talks to training and development. "We need to see the women being the majority of bursary recipients, we need to increase the volume of films produced, with a target of 30 short films per annum. The NFVF and its Council aims to support 5 TV concepts, create awareness especially in the previously disadvantaged communities." She also added that the empowerment of women and youth is key in the strategy and that "we need to create access to films in the township by revisiting the bioscope model."

The Chairperson promised the guests that the event would be held annually to ensure that all the inputs from the industry are noted and activated.

The NFVF continues to support efforts of women in the sector by supporting initiatives including that of Women of the Sun. Other programmes that the NFVF currently launched are NFVF Short Film competition and proposal for Slate Funding that encourages the women to take part. The closing dates for submission for both short film competition and slate funding are 16th of September and 21st of September 2011.

For more information email Communications and Public Affairs Manager Naomi Mokhele.