Incentives bring filmmakers to South Africa

Recent productions include 'Amelia,' 'Invictus'

By KEVIN KRIEDEMANN

South Africa's Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI) rebate has recently been reworked to pay out co-productions at key moments during the production process. The DTI offers a 25% rebate for official co-productions and 15% for foreign productions, both capped at 10 million rand ($1.36 million). The incentive may not be the largest, but it's refreshingly efficient.

Top facility: Cape Town Film Studios, a $58 million, custom-built, Hollywood-style soundstage complex will open its first phase in the first half of next year. It's touted as a first of its kind for Africa.

Key contacts: Cape Town and Gauteng are the main hubs for filmmaking, with dedicated film commissions in both regions. Durban is another production center, which has its own film office, while the National Film and Video Foundation is the body mandated to grow the local film industry. There are a number of experienced service companies, including Moonlighting ("Invictus," "Amelia"), Out of Africa ("Generation Kill"), Film Afrika ("No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency"), Kalahari Pictures ("District 9"), Do ("Disgrace"), One Step Beyond ("The Silent Army"), Reeleyes ("Lord of War"), ZenHQ ("Tunnel Rats") and Two Oceans Prods. ("Laconia").