P Mashatile: Gauteng Film Indaba

6 November 2007

Programme Director
The Premier of Gauteng, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa
The CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission, Terry Tselane
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2007 Gauteng Film
Indaba. We are truly delighted that you could join us today at this Film
Indaba, an event we hope from this year on will be hosted on an annual
basis.

We meet here today, as various stakeholders, to take stock and reflect on
the state of the film industry in Gauteng.

We are also here collectively to find ways of how to stimulate investment in
this critical sector of our economy and to ensure that this sector contributes
to our strategic objectives of growing the provincial economy and creating
jobs.

We must emerge out of this Indaba with a clear and sustainable programme
aimed at increasing Gauteng's competitive position as production and broadcast
hub.

Our deliberations at this Indaba must culminate in a joint programme that we
will implement together as stakeholders to unsure that we position Gauteng as a
prime film destination and production centre of choice.

I am told that during this Indaba, the Gauteng Film Commission will release
the findings of the first phase of 'Project Gaullywood' which is a
comprehensive review of the state of the film sector in Gauteng.

This review entailed a comprehensive investigation into the size, scope and
competitiveness of the film industry in Gauteng. The review is the first of its
kind and gives the true size and impact of the Gauteng film industry.

This review is expected to guide future interventions by the public and
private sector to support the growth of the film sector in Gauteng.

Programme Director, the film and creative industries continue to play a
significant role in the provincial economy in terms of job creation and
contribution to economic growth. Gauteng's advanced and world class
infrastructure continues to play a significant role in attracting local and
international film makers to our province.

We are encouraged to note that Gauteng accounts for the bulk of television
production in South Africa. Gauteng also enjoys a large share of the commercial
production sector with an estimated 44% of all commercials filmed in South
Africa, shot in Gauteng.

Also encouraging is that our province is increasingly being used as base for
the facilitation and provision of logistical and technical services for foreign
productions, including foreign feature films.

We also note with appreciation that local demand for entertainment content
is on the increase and that our national cinema market is rated as one of the
20 most lucrative markets in the world.

Collectively these positive developments in our film and creative industries
should inspire us to further intensify efforts aimed at growing these
industries and consolidating their impact on the economy.

As part of implementing the provincial Growth and Development Strategy, we
as the Gauteng Provincial Government will continue to support the development
of the film and creative industries.

This we will do because these industries have proven themselves to the world
over to be important elements in the development of successful city regions and
can make significant contributions to social and economic development.

We trust that as a result of deliberations at this Indaba, efforts by both
the public and private sectors to support the film and creative industries in
Gauteng will be strengthened.

We also trust that that this Indaba will pave the way for the development of
sustainable partnerships between all stakeholders for the advancement of the
film industry.

Let us all put our collective shoulder to the wheel in ensuring that Gauteng
becomes a premier film making and production destination.

Once more welcome to the 2007 Gauteng Film Indaba. I wish you fruitful
deliberations.

Thank you

Issued by: Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, Gauteng Provincial
Government
6 November 2007