View PDF->Minister’s Speech – Kula Awards 2018 Launch
Chairperson – Film Fiji;
Board Directors;
Chief Executive Officer;
Participating Students;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to all of you.
It is indeed an honor for me to be here today to launch the much awaited 2018 Kula Awards and I take this opportunity to welcome students to today’s launch. The Kula Awards is all about you.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Kula Awards is a major development programme for Film Fiji, now in its 13th year and it provides a great avenue for students to develop and express their creativity.
The Kula Awards truly uncovers talents of our students that may otherwise be hidden and it helps them understand the world around them. Since the inception of the programme in 2006, the number of schools participating has increased exponentially and we have a record number of schools participating this year at 41 high schools
Ladies and Gentlemen
The audio visual industry is growing rapidly and the Fijian Government will continue to provide the relevant resources for the marketing and development of the audio-visual sector. In addition, we will also provide the enabling environment to encourage investment in infrastructure that encourages more productions in Fiji.
The Fijian audio-visual industry was given a boost in 2012 with the increase in the Film Tax Rebate to 47 percent, making it the best film incentive in the world. It has gained the attention of the film-making world and the producers from the United States of America, India, Australia and Europe have taken advantage on this incentive and undertaken productions in Fiji.
The growth of the industry relies on foreign production activity to fuel it. Hence, the more foreign productions come into the country, the more economic activities are generated by this industry. The Fijian audio-visual sector is forging its way to becoming a fully-fledged local industry that supplies sustainable employment and returns for investment.
Ladies and Gentlemen
In terms of numbers, the industry, in the last 3 years, has shown exceptional performance. In 2015, there were 42 productions with a budgetary value of $9.9 million. This value increased to $308 million, in terms of total budgetary value of all the production in Fiji, in 2017. The number of productions also increased by 76.2 percent in 2017.
It is worth noting that in 2015, the local spend by the productions was valued $5.8 million, which increased by $119.2 million or by 2,055 percent in 2017, to $125 million.
The economic activity created by the audio-visual productions in 2017 is approximately $350 million, which is an increase of $333.8 million compared to 2015.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The increase in large film productions has led to increased employment of local talent. Furthermore, local vendors are engaged to supply products and services to the productions. These include:
- hotel accommodation
- land, air and sea transportation
- catering
- hardware and building materials
- equipment hire
- financial, insurance and professional services
There is also investment by locals into new areas of businesses that can provide technical support to the industry, for example, set and prop designs.
Last year over 1,300 Fijians were employed by the productions. These were specialised skilled personnel, we are listed on the Film Fiji talent database. And, I am sure that many of you would be part of this list of talent that Fiji has. Kula Awards is just the platform that you need to bring forward your talent.
Ladies, gentlemen and students,
Film tourism is a growing phenomenon worldwide, which Governments around the world have started paying attention to it and are providing the relevant resources for the development of their audio-visual industries.
In this regard, with the support of the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry has been able to provide the relevant resources to Film Fiji. Since 2015, Film Fiji’s budget has increased by 133 percent to over $2 million. This is primarily to support Film Fiji’s marketing and promotion activities in key markets, such as US (Hollywood), India (Bollywood), China, to name a few.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The 5-year and 20-year National Development Plan (NDP) provides a clear link between tourism promotion and the development of the audio-visual sector.
In addition, the NDP also states that to improve prospects for the audio-visual industry and film-making there needs to be partnership with the private sector. This will include the development of large production studios, enhanced availability of specialised equipment and nurturing of local talent.
The Fijian Government will continue to provide the relevant resources for the marketing and development of the audio-visual sector and provide an enabling environment to encourage investment into related infrastructure.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
Coming back to today’s event, this year, we have schools participating from as far as Taveuni, Vanua Levu and Kadavu and this speaks volume of how much this programme has grown in the last 13 years.
We have seen some amazing work done by our students in the past and we are certainly looking forward to something similar or even better this year.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism through the Fijian Made-Buy Fijian Campaign has come on board again this year to partner with Film Fiji to sponsor the Kula Film Competition.
Therefore, students, the Kula Awards is an opportunity that we provide to you every year and I always encourage students to participate. Who knows, you could join the film industry someday or even become a famous artist.
Ladies and Gentlemen
With these words, it gives me great pleasure to now officially launch Kula Awards 2018.
Thank You and Vinaka Vakalevu.
View PDF->Minister’s Speech – Kula Awards 2018 Launch