NFVF partners with Netflix to fund micro-budget films

18 March 2021

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is partnering with Netflix for a film fund to support local filmmakers.

The agency announced the R28 million collaboration amid a global pandemic that has affected the film industry.

Under the agreement, the fund will support the production of local films which will exclusively debut on Netflix.

The NFVF and Netflix will contribute R14 million each to the project. It will fund four feature films by emerging filmmakers capped at R4 million and two feature films by established filmmakers.

The latter will be capped at R6 million each.

Opportunities for emerging filmmakers

The national government agency emphasised that it was vital to provide new opportunities for emerging filmmakers in a time when many locally and international productions have been halted.

“We are excited as the NFVF to be partnering with Netflix and appreciate their investment into local content. The incorporation of digital platforms into our traditional processes can only benefit the 2 industries further,” says NFVF CEO Makhosazana Khanyile.

“We hope this is simply the start in what will no doubt be a long and fruitful relationship.”

The organisations are also hoping the funding will boost the recovering creative industries amid global COVID-19 lockdowns.

“The creative community, that we are a part of, has supported us through the good times so we want to help them continue to create the stories our members love through the $1 million Covid Relief Fund contribution we started last year in collaboration with SASFED and IPO to help below-the-line workers in South Africa’s creative industry. Now, we’re excited to take this a step further with this joint fund with NFVF for above-the-line talent,” says Netflix’s Director of Content in Africa Ben Amadasun.

The submission portal will go live on the 1 April 2021. More details will be available at www.nfvf.co.za