THE CALL FOR THE FIFTH PRESIDENTIAL EMPLOYMENT STIMULUS PROGRAMME (PESP5) FOCUSED ON THE AUDIO-VISUAL INDUSTRY, IS OPEN.The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), is pleased to announce the opening of the call for the Presidential Employment Stimulus Program 5, also referred to as PESP5 by the Presidency issued through the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (DSAC). The closing date for submissions is Friday, 24 May 2024, 17h00.
The NFVF has been tasked by the DSAC to administer PESP5, a government initiative designed to continue the reactivation in the sector into the right path as per the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (ERRP) after the COVID-19 pandemic's devastating impact. The package aims to assist practitioners and companies with projects in their implementation stages to reach completion through financial support. The call also aims to support the sector through continuous skills development; focusing on the skills which the sector deems scarce.
For the 2024/25 financial year, the DSAC has allocated R163 000 000 to ensure that the job creation target of 9 500 for the financial year is met.
The project allocation cost of R163 000 000 will be spread as follows:
Stream 1: R 80 250 000 (3 860 jobs)
Stream 2: R 30 450 000 (2 250 jobs)
Stream 3: R 21 038 000 (3 250 jobs)
Administration cost: R 6 262 000
Sub-Total: R138 000 000
No. of jobs (Grant Funding): 9 360 jobs
Digitisation of Videos R 25 000 000 (140 internship jobs)
Total no of Jobs 9 500 Jobs
Total R163 000 000
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
Given that PESP is a special project, not all prescripts of the NFVF funding policy will be applicable.
Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 - 12 March 2025 for Stream 1 ,2 and 3, within the above budget will be considered.
For Stream 1, feature formats for fiction and non-fiction will not be considered to the limited timelines available for implementation. Only short formats across fiction and non-fiction will be considered.
PESP-specific funding caps will be implemented in order to provide funding to as many practitioners as possible, without compromising the number of jobs that can be created within the set timeframes per stream. These caps are NOT to be confused with the funding caps of the NFVF funding policy as PESP is a special project.
The ideal projects would be those with the ability to employ at least ten (10) or more people at the rates stipulated within the funding caps per stream.
If applicants require supplementary funding, their applications need to clearly indicate the surety of this funding (Letters of intent etc.).
Approved applicants will be required to open a separate designated bank account for PESP5 upon contracting.
Approved applicants will be required to sign a power of attorney to the NFVF for the dedicated account.
Projects submitted for the various streams should prioritise employment opportunities for youth, women, people living with disabilities and previously disadvantaged groups. All Priority will be given to applicants that have not received funding for PESP 1, PESP 3 and PESP 4.
PESP5 is a special project for providing continued relief funding through job creation with a job creation target, as per the prescripts shared by the DSAC. It does not have budget set aside for appeals and therefore no provision has been made for appeals.
AUDIO-VISUAL OPEN CALL STREAMS
STREAM 1: PRODUCTION OPEN CALL
PROJECTS CONSIDERED:
Fiction: Production Animations (Short Film/Pilot), Production Short Films, Production Web-Series, Post-Production Short Film, Production TV Pilot.
Non-Fiction: Production Short Films Documentary, Production Web-Series, Post-Production Documentary Short Film, Production TV Pilot.
Jobs Considered and Timeframe: Minimum of 10 jobs within a period of 4 months (Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 - 12 March 2025).
PROJECTS NOT CONSIDERED:
Fiction - Complete TV Series and TV Formats, Production Animation (Series), Production Animation (Feature Film), Production Feature Film, Production Made for TV, Post-Production Feature Film.
Non-Fiction Complete TV Series and TV Formats, Production Feature Documentary, Post-Production Documentary Feature Film.
STREAM 2: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OPEN CALL-
PROJECTS CONSIDERED:
Training programmes by provisionally and fully accredited training practitioners and non-accredited training by practitioners with a minimum of 10 years experienced. Preference will be given to training targeting scarce skills in the industry as well as training programs aimed at the Youth, People Living with Disabilities and Female filmmakers.
Jobs Considered and Timeframe: Minimum of 10 jobs within a period of 4 months (Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 -12 March 2025)
STREAM 3: MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION OPEN CALL-
PROJECTS CONSIDERED:
Film Festivals, Markets and Public Screenings targeting job creation.
No. Jobs Considered and Timeframe: Minimum of 10 jobs within a period of 4 months. (Projects that are realistically implementable between 12 November 2024 -12 March 2025)
PROJECTS NOT CONSIDERED: Normal Marketing & Distribution funding; Film Festival and Markets Attendance Funding.
The terms of reference and objective criteria have a deliberate focus on the following success factors for evaluation:
Functionality - demonstrable project management capability and likelihood for high impact success i.e. project success, number of jobs created and geographical reach;
BBBEE (targeted group as per National Treasury Regulations) - deliberate focus on the demographics with the highest incidence of unemployment;
Scarce Skills - training and development proposals with the pote
