SA film industry calls for intervention from Presidency after DTIC talks stall, again - EWN

Talks with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) over the future of the film industry have broken down for the third time, the Save SA Film and TV Jobs Coalition has confirmed.

At issue is the DTIC's Film and Television Production Incentive, which seemingly remains dormant.

The Coalition is now calling on the Presidency to intervene, saying correspondence to Minister Parks Tau remains unanswered.

It also plans to report the breakdown in talks to Parliament.

The organisation, an alliance of 18 industry bodies representing the organised film and TV sector, reports that the seven-day window it gave the Minister to remedy the situation, has now expired.

"The industry is left to ask how a working relationship with the Department is to be maintained when its correspondence is not responded to", the Coalition says in a statement.

It refers to an agreement it signed with the Department on 10 August, which outlined the way forward for the two parties to work together to reopen the film incentive programme and address a backlog of applications.

Stephen Grootes speaks to a member of the Coalition, Michael Auret, who is MD of Spier Films.