South African Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina has encouraged production houses at the 68th Annual Cannes International Film Festival to use South Africa as an attractive and affordable alternative location for film productions, his office said Saturday.According to the office, Masina at Cannes International Film Festival took advantage of South Africa’s signing of a co-production treaty with France during the film festival which started on 13 May and ends on 24 May.

“This agreement serves as a driver from which France can contribute to the expansion of the film, television, video production and distribution industries of both countries,� Masina said.

The co-production treaty also serves to enhance the development of cultural and economic exchanges, he said.

The deputy minister’s visit during the on-going film festival in France was also aimed at exposing South Africa’s emerging black filmmakers to international markets, distributors, funders and producers with the intention of transforming and growing the South African film industry.

Masina is leading a delegation of 20 emerging black filmmakers to the film festival, a trip funded by his Ministry of Trade and Industry. They will participate in a producers’ network and workshop sessions,â€� ministry spokesperson Sidwell Medupe said.

Masina’s programme includes meetings with the US film studio Lions Gate as well as with Axiom, a leading UK-based film production, distribution and sales company.

http://en.starafrica.com/news/safrican-minister-woos-film-production-houses.html