20 August 2012

The NFVF Film and Video Funding for Script Development and Training (South Africa)

The National Film and Video Foundation will now issue quarterly calls for applications for funding in the areas of training, marketing and distribution support, script development and production financing. These calls will be aligned to the quarterly meetings of council and are designed to provide the industry with clear deadlines for submissions each quarter.

All applicants are advised to carefully study the criteria and submission requirements in all areas for which funding is being sought. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications received after the deadline will only be considered for the following quarterly meeting of council.

The following categories will be considered for production and development funding:
  • Documentaries
  • Features
  • Short films
  • Television concepts
WHO QUALIFIES FOR DEVELOPMENT FUNDING?

Independent production companies or writers may apply to the NFVF for development funding. In the case of writers, the NFVF may assist the writer to find a producer. Companies that apply for development funding must hold exclusive rights or options for at least 24 months.

DEVELOPMENT FUNDING APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

The following supporting documentation must be submitted together with an official application form:
  • A covering letter of motivation
  • Synopsis (1-3 pages)
  • Treatment (10 -20 pages)
  • Chain of Title
  • Writer's Curriculum Vitae
  • Producer's Curriculum Vitae
  • Development budget
  • Estimated production budget
  • Financial plan
  • Target audience/distribution plan
  • Track record of Production Company
  • Proof that the applicant is the owner of the company
  • Proof of South African identity
  • The following items should ideally be included in the Development Budget listed above:
  • Acquisition of idea for a script
  • Acquisition of rights
  • Option on rights
  • Writers fee
  • Script consultant/readers
  • Research
  • Producer fee (where appropriate). This should not exceed 7% of the total budget.
  • Travel costs for accessing finance for projects (local or international) - a limited amount of these costs may be covered by the NFVF.
  • Overheads -this should not exceed 5.5% of total budget excluding the Producer Fee.
HOW DOES THE NFVF SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT?

The development of projects is seen as a vital component of the NFVF's strategy and an important basis upon which any film production strategy should be built. The Foundation will consider contributing development funding to projects in the following categories:
  • Feature-length and short films
  • Documentaries
  • Animation
  • Multimedia
The Foundation considers development funding as an investment and will set in place mechanisms to recoup all of its development expenditure with interest on principal photography when the project enters the production phase. If a project fails to be realised, the Foundation reserves the right to be reimbursed.

HOW ARE FUNDS DISBURSED?

When development funds are allocated, payments will be made in three instalments subject to the provision of cost reports that includes proof of expenditure. The final allocation will be paid upon presentation of final script. The NFVF may at its discretion appoint an auditor for non-commercial projects.

HOW ARE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING APPLICATIONS EVALUATED?

In addition to the general criteria listed in Section 3 above, projects will also be evaluated according to:
  • the likelihood of the developed project reaching its target audience
  • the likelihood of the project obtaining production finance
  • local and international distribution intent
When evaluating co-productions, preference will be shown to projects with local creative control.

WHEN SHOULD ONE APPLY TO THE NFVF FOR FUNDING?

The NFVF will receive proposals for film funding throughout the year. In each category of funding, only one application per organisation, individual or company will be considered during a particular financial year.

Download: development application form, detailed funding criteria

Link: frequently asked questions

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: thandekiles@nfvf.co.za

Website: http://nfvf.co.za
READ NEXT:

Subscribe

IMPORTANT: Do not respond to the job ad if (a) it charges fees for registration or access to listings, trainings or other materials; (b) you are redirected to dubious or domain-flipping websites; or (c) you are subjected to take lengthy unpaid tests/trial assignments or required to submit long-form samples on very specific topics or following a very specific editorial style. Help keep this job board scam-free by reporting a scam listing to contact@writejobs.info; we will then include a warning in the post.