MEDIA RELEASE: R43,1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN EASTERN CAPE FILM INDUSTRY LEVERAGES R521,7 MILLION RETURN ON INVESTMENT

April 23, 2025 

Film and television productions produced in the Eastern Cape are proving a remarkable success having leveraged a total investment value of R521,7 million from a R43,1 million funding incentive from the provincial Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund between 2018 to 2025. 

The economic impact of the 31 funded film productions is being felt through job creation, small business participation and skills transfer to local creatives. Through the 31 productions, 9,020 temporary jobs were created benefitting 696 small businesses across various sectors including hospitality, retail, transport, security and clothing. Since its establishment in 2019, the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund has funded immensely popular productions such as telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire, Survivor South Africa 8, Knuckle City and more recently Homecoming: An African Christmas Story by Jack and Jill Productions which was released in October 2024.

“In 2019, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) -managed Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund was established to support commercially-viable film and television productions shot in the province. The fund is designed to support and grow the film and television industry in the Eastern Cape by providing a financial incentive to productions that

contribute to investment attraction, job creation, SMME participation, skills development and tourism. 

“We are delighted that we are seeing these goals being realised. We already have an exciting line-up of film projects in the pipeline which are being considered for funding. The ECDC has received six potential film projects planning to shoot in the 2025/26 financial year with a total budget request of R9 million which is expected to leverage a total investment of R63,5 million. These pipeline projects are estimated to create 221 jobs across various roles such as production, direction, cinematography, editing, and technical support. A total of 59 small businesses are expected to participate across these projects, directly benefitting them in areas such as catering, transportation, technical services, and equipment rental,” says ECDC chief executive officer Ayanda Wakaba.

Beyond direct job creation and small business participation, these film and television projects promote skills development while boosting the tourism sector. 

Wakaba says the province is actively promoting film investing by positioning the province as a competitive and attractive film destination. The film and television industry holds an immense economic potential and the province is increasing market access for Eastern Cape-based production companies and productions shot in the Eastern Cape to screen their projects in local and international film festivals.

The support provided to the film and television sector is bearing fruit with production companies submitting funding proposals which are resulting in the Eastern Cape increasingly being considered a preferred production destination.

For example, in the 2024/25 financial year, the ECDC invested R6,9 million in eight film and television productions leveraging a total investment value of R90,1 million. These productions contributed to job creation, skills development and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) development. The funded projects created a total of 950 temporary jobs, including cast, crew and extras. Popular telenovela, Gqeberha: The Empire Season 2 emerged as the largest contributor with 842 jobs created while other productions created between 14 and 40 jobs. During the production phase of these projects, a total of 173 SMMEs provided support services including but not limited to catering, accommodation, warehouses, storage facilities, transport, security, mobile ablution facilities, set construction, costume designs, laundry services and technical support.

A further four projects with a total budget request of R6,5 million were submitted for funding consideration in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year. These productions are expected to leverage a return on investment of R43,5 million. The projects are set to create 264 jobs for crew and cast while benefiting 35 SMMEs in various sectors, including accommodation, security, catering, and transport among others.

Some of the more recent memorable productions produced in the province include Gqeberha: The Empire, the first telenovela in the province to grace our screens for two consecutive seasons. In January 2025, its run came to an end, after captivating audiences with its compelling storytelling. It also made a significant impact on the Eastern Cape’s film and television industries. From creating job opportunities to empowering local talent and businesses, Gqeberha: The Empire has left a lasting legacy. 

In October 2024, the province celebrated the release of Homecoming, a feature film shot in Tsholomnqa. Jack and Jill Productions in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation hosted a successful premiere of Homecoming: An African Story at Hemingways Mall in East Londond on 04 October 2024. Homecoming: An African Christmas Story is a heartwarming holiday film set in the rural village of Tsholomnqa in the Eastern Cape. The story is centred around family, tradition, and reconciliation, celebrating African culture through Christmas. Currently available in cinemas nationwide.

The Queenstown Kings continues to makes waves and scooping awards. The Queenstown Kings filmed in Komani, scooped four awards at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The film won the following awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role: Zolisa Xaluva; Best Director: Jahmil X.T. Qubeka; Best Film in an African Language: "The Queenstown Kings"; Achievement in Sound: "The Queenstown Kings".

On 27 February 2025, the industry celebrated another milestone with the release of Family and Rugby, a feature film shot in Ezibeleni, Queenstown which will be available on eVOD. The story revolves around Dumisani Binase, a young rugby star from Ezibeleni in Queenstown, whose journey is characterised by challenges, triumphs and unwavering love of his community.