GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A film office is to be established by Eden District Municipality (EDM) early in 2018 to market the Southern Cape globally as a region with diverse and beautiful film locations. 

A committee has been established to oversee the functions of the non-profit entity named the Garden Route and Klein Karoo Services (GR and KKS). 

An office manager and assistant still have to be appointed.

One of the main aims of the film office will be to market the region internationally to filmmakers and producers. 

Apart from providing information about local film crews and showcasing the area's beautiful locations, it will also facilitate the shooting of films in the region and perform certain administrative functions.

Budget
A budget of R636 000, which provides for the salaries of an office manager at R240 000 per annum and an assistant at R60 000, was approved by the Eden District Municipal Council at a special meeting on 20 September. 

It is envisaged that in its first year, the office will be financed by local municipalities until the DTI gets on board with a grant and other incomes are generated.

Affected municipalities have not committed themselves to financial contributions, but they support the establishment of the film office in principle, said an EDM spokesperson.

Website
Photos showcasing some of the 52 locations on the database are featured on the website www.grkk-film-office.co.za. 

A strategy and a film catalogue has been developed to showcase the entire region's film locations and can be viewed on this website. 

"In addition to this, a non-profit organisation has been registered to facilitate and coordinate activities to develop and grow the film industry in the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region," said Melanie Wilson, manager of Local Economic Development and Tourism.

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