The National Film and Video
Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture
that was created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa's film and
video industry.
In light of the national state of
disaster declared by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs in terms of section 27(1) of the Disaster Management Act which resulted
in a national lockdown, and the collective national efforts to combat the
spread of the Coronavirus virus (COVID-19) The NFVF acknowledges that COVID-19
has significantly impacted the film and television industry as productions were
either halted or postponed.
The NFVF has initiated a relief
fund aimed to support and assist independent freelance practitioners, technical
and production crew in the film and television industry who have been affected
and infected by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically:
- Practitioners who are experiencing a loss of income
due to cancellations or postponements of confirmed work engagements in
South Africa, either as a result of being infected with COVID-19 or due to
the National State of Disaster and subsequent lockdown.
- The NFVF Relief Fund will prioritise up to 60% of
the available funds towards freelance film practitioners, technical and
production crew members who have lost income due to the cancellation or
postponement of productions. A definition of the crew and a list of what
the NFVF will consider as freelance film practitioners, technical and
production crew, is given below.
Opening date for submissions:
Submission Date: 6 August 2020
Closing date for submissions:
Submission Date: 3 September 2020, Midnight
Applicants need to register and
complete the online application form using the following link: https://nfvf.praxisgms.co.za/
The Relief fund will provide grants of up to R10,000 (ten thousand rands) per applicant to help alleviate the acute hardships faced by South African freelance practitioners, technical and production crew during this time of economic uncertainty. Whilst emergency relief resources alone cannot address long-term career stability, the intent of this fund is to ensure that freelance practitioners, technical and production crew receive support.
1. Criteria:
1.1.
Emerging or established Practicing freelancers, technical and production crew.
1.2.
Applications must be made in the individuals personal capacity.
1.3.
At least 21 years of age, with proven work experience of a minimum of 24 months
in film and television production.
1.4.
South African citizens with valid ID documents, or
1.5.
Permanent resident in South Africa with a valid ID/Permit.
1.6.
Refugees with a valid ID/Permit.
1.7.
Provide proof of loss of income due to the cancellation of work. This can be in
the form
of a contract, letter of
engagement or call sheet.
1.8. Provide proof of previous work within the film and television industry within
the past 12 months.
2. Exclusions:
2.1. Individuals that have been awarded a relief grant from other funds (both public
or private funding).
2.2. Non-citizens, permanent residents, refugees or individuals without
official status.
2.3. Practitioners who work in front of the camera (Performing artists).
2.4. Practitioners who are permanently employed through companies that are NFVF
beneficiaries.
3. How does it work?
Applicants must:
- Submit a short motivation letter with all relevant
information and a breakdown of the details and loss of income.
- Provide valid banking details and statements
covering the last 3 months for the account to which any award will be
disbursed.
- Provide a one-page confirmation letter from the
applicant's client/employer with a high-level overview of the cancelled or
postponed project, this must be attached when applying for loss of income
relief.
- Submit proof of previous work/projects engagements
in the industry (in the past two years) with an accompanying letter from
at one least previous employer. The letter must include contactable
references.
- Submit their applications through Praxis
4. Incomplete applications
will not be processed, which will result in an automatic disqualification.
5. The adjudication panels are
made of industry professionals, presided over by NFVF Chairs of panels.
6. Recommendations will be
presented to the NFVF Council for final approval. The NFVF funds are capped at
R10,000 per applicant.
7. Successful
applicants will be published on the NFVF website.
8. Definition of Crew:
A crew is a group of
people, hired by a production company, for the purpose of producing a film
or motion picture. The crew is distinguished from
the cast as the cast are understood to be
the actors who appear in front of the camera or provide
voices for characters in the film. The crew is also separate from
the producers as the producers are the ones who own a
portion of either the film company or the film's intellectual property
rights. A film crew is divided into different departments, each of which
specialises in a specific aspect of the production. Whilst all film
practitioners will be considered, crews will be prioritised for this relief
funding.
Motion picture projects have
three discrete stages: development, production and distribution. Within the
production stage, there are also three clearly defined sequential phases —
pre-production, principal photography and post-production — and many film crew
positions are associated with only one or two of the phases. Distinctions are
also made between above-the-line personnel (such as the director, the
screenwriter and the producers) who begin their involvement during the
project's development stage, and
the below-the-line "technical" crew involved only with the
production stage.
9. List of non-exhaustive crew titles that will be considered for funding:
Please note that no late
applications will be accepted.
For any queries regarding
applications please contact:
Thandekile Hlatshwayo
Applications Officer
Email: thandekileh@nfvf.co.za.
Telephone: 011 484 0880
Or
Manti Sekwakwa
Applications Officer
Email: mantis@nfvf.co.za
Telephone: 011 484 0880
