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THE Cape Town Film Studios project has met critical mid-year deadlines relating to the upgrading of the R310 highway, bulk infrastructure and the construction of the studio buildings themselves.

"We are very pleased to announce that the tender process has started in earnest, and that three important tenders have already been awarded," says Anant Singh, chairperson of Cape Town Film Studios. The first tender to be announced was for the improvement of the R310, which was awarded to Martin & East (PTY) Ltd on March 13. The second, placed with Imvusa Trading 1569 CC on May 19, was for mass earthworks for phase one of the studios' construction, and the third was a closed tender for Piling which was awarded to Frankipile on June 13.

The upgrading of the R310 highway is a requirement of the traffic impact assessment and is earmarked for completion in December. On the actual site in Faure, bush clearing was largely complete by March this year to prepare for the installation of major bulk infrastructure and civil works. The anticipated capital expenditure of the entire project is estimated to be in excess of R430-million over the next seven years.

There are currently two further tenders that have closed: one for the construction of phase one of the studio buildings which closed in June; and the other for the construction of civil engineering services, also for phase one, which closed on July 9. These tenders are anticipated to be awarded by the end of this month.

Further information regarding these tenders can be found on the Cape Town Film Studios' website at www.capetownfilmstudios.co.za.

The start of tendering and construction marks an important milestone in the history of the Cape Town Film Studios.

Plans are currently being finalised for four stages of varying sound and size specifications. In total there will be 7 050 m² of stages and an additional 10 000 m² productions offices, production support spaces and workshops, all set to be operational by early 2010.

The international film industry continues to be attracted to Western Cape to shoot features, television programmes and commercials with the film industry having grown substantially since 2006.

Currently feature films are in production all year-round, while the commercial filming season generally takes place annually between September and April. According to statistics released by the Cape Film Commission, production activities in Cape Town currently encompasses films, stills and commercial production and can be compared with cities such as Atlanta, Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Miami and Rio de Janeiro.

The film sector is considered a strategic sector for the Western Cape and for the continual growth of the city's economy. It generates billions of rand in foreign direct investment and media exposure. An economic impact assessment study commissioned by the Cape Film Commission calculates the film industry to have a direct turnover of more than R2,5-billion per annum. This, in turn, is believed to have contributed an indirect annual turnover in excess of R3,5-billion to national GDP through the multiplier effect.

According to Cape Town Film Studios shareholder Wesgro, the film industry also serves as an important medium through which socio-economic issues can be addressed, as well as contributing to national GDP, creating jobs and promoting South Africa as a preferred services destination.

The Cape Town Film Studios is, to date, the largest investment allocation to the country's film industry and will boost much-needed investment in an under-capitalised industry and further drive the Western Cape's turnover. "This project, which has been designed to meet local and international industry needs, will contribute to cementing Cape Town's global position as a leading film production destination," says Singh.

The film studios project came about as a result of a call for expressions of interest from the provincial government of the Western Cape, the City of Cape Town, Cape Film Commission and Wesgro, which acknowledged that the film industry as a long-term growth sector for the region. In February 2004, after a lengthy tender process that commenced in June 2003, the provincial government and the City confirmed Cape Town Film Studios (then known as Dreamworld Film City Ltd) as the developer of a world-class film studio in Cape Town.

After the awarding of preferred bidder status to the Cape Town Film Studios, the selected site had to be zoned and a thorough environmental impact assessment was undertaken.

The Western Cape government committed R30-million to the project through Wesgro in return for a 10 per cent equity stake. The City of Cape Town committed a further R30-million in the form of bulk infrastructure. Today all funding, the majority of which is private, is in place and the development on track.

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