The American subscription streaming service and production company, Netflix said it will invest R900 million ($62 million) between 2022 and 2023 in South African film and television productions. The announcement was made at the Annual Investment Conference in Johannesburg, Sandton on Thursday 24 March 2022.
Shola Sanni, Netflix’s director of public policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, said “South Africa is fast becoming a top global location for Netflix productions, with the country viewed as the go-to location with a robust and talented film industry,”.
About the New Netflix Investment
The company said this commitment will cover four productions — one international and three local — which will be filmed in South Africa between 2022 and 2023.
“These productions, which are just some of the many shows the company is creating in South Africa with local production partners like Film Afrika, Gambit Films, Quizzical Pictures, and Burnt Onion, will significantly boost the South African film and TV industry,” Netflix said in a statement.
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Local content will be featured on Netflix’s global platform, which currently has 222 million subscribers. “South Africa is fast becoming a top global location for Netflix productions, with the country viewed as a go-to location with a robust and talented film industry filled with local creatives to bring international stories to life,” it said.
Shola Sanni, Netflix’s director of public policy in sub-Saharan Africa, also said in the statement “Since our launch [in South Africa] in 2016, we’ve been working with creators and distributors to bring high-quality stories that showcase the best of the country’s creativity and talent to a global audience — and this is only the beginning,”
Impact on South Africa
According to Shola Sanni, Netflix’s Director of Public Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa, “Netflix is committed to South Africa for the long term and we’re investing in talent both in front of and behind the camera. Since our launch in 2016, we’ve been working with South African creators and distributors to bring high-quality stories that showcase the best of South Africa’s creativity and talent to a global audience – and this is only just the beginning.”
Bizcommunity also reported that “One Piece is reportedly Netflix’s biggest production in Africa to date in terms of scale and budget, covering South African cast and crew, infrastructure, and suppliers. The production is expected to create opportunities for over 50 cast members from South Africa, with over 1,000 full-time crew member jobs (consisting of 67% previously disadvantaged individuals and 46% youth employees). This also includes a mentorship programme for over 30 young creatives and technicians in collaboration with the SA Film Academy during 2022.”
Netflix is positively impacting South African storytelling by working with industry professionals to create brilliant content that can reach a global audience and increase demand for South African content. A global audience is connected to South African stories, as well as the country’s rich social and cultural heritage.
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Every Netflix production in SA helps local businesses. When a Netflix Original is commissioned, it opens up opportunities for writers, directors, actors, stylists, and make-up artists, among many other industries and trades. Every investment has a multiplier effect: the economic impact of each project in South Africa is several times the actual investment.
Over the last five years, Netflix invested about R2-billion in South African productions. In 2021, the company estimated that for everyone’s local view of a South African title on Netflix, there were 26 views by households outside South Africa.
Netflix Expectations From SA Government
According to Tech Central, the company stated that it looks forward to seeing the government continue to maintain a favorable investment environment that has allowed for such investments in the past, including remarkable initiatives such as the foreign film and production incentive scheme that the department of trade, industry, and competition has operated.
“It would be great for our long-term investment plans to see even more transparency and predictability in that area because the presence of a reliable incentive scheme is crucial for our financial decisions.”