FILM INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE (FITI) TURNS SIYAVUYA MFENQA’S DREAM TO REALITY
When Siyavuya Mfenqa enrolled for the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission‘s Film Industry Transformation Initiative (FITI) programme, he never could have dreamed where this programme would take him. Mfenqa initially studied a National Diploma in Dramatic at the Durban University of Technology. After he graduated, he wanted to be a film director, but he knew very little about film directing. He saw a post on social media by the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission about a one month directing master class, he took a chance, applied for it, and got accepted.
“The master class was facilitated by different prominent directors in the country with critically acclaimed notoriety in the TV and Film industry. From that master class, I learned so much and made relationships with some of my peers I had been attending with. But I felt that there was still a room to grow, I wanted to learn more and know more. Fortunately, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission introduced a 3-year graduate, FITI programme that intended to mould film graduates academically and practically,” said elated Mfenqa.
Speaking to Mthokozisi Buthelezi, the KZN Film Commission’s Marketing and Communications Specialist, Siyavuya attested that this programme has been pivotal in his career for it has opened many doors for him, filled him with enormous skills and knowledge. “Post FITI, I’ve been able to produce a documentary funded by the National Film and Video Foundation, I worked as a line producer for a film titled “Better Way to Die” that premiere on BET, I have also worked as a 3rd AD on two films that are still coming on Netflix,” he said.
Speaking about the FITI programme, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission Chief Executive Officer Ms Carol Coetzee said, “The programme is targeting university graduates who would have studied film or TV at NQF level 7 (Bachelor’s degree) or Diploma at NQF level 6 and need to be exposed to industry experience, practical application of film and TV skills in various areas of speciality and best practice in the industry.”
Mfenqa hopes his journey will inspire other young South Africans, to dream big and to take advantage of various programmes that are presented to them.
“This year, I decided to go back to school at the University of Witwatersrand (WITS) to complete my honours degree in Film and Television. Initially, I did not qualify as I only had a diploma, but the learning experience I’ve accumulated at FITI is enough for my application to meet the minimum requirement. My dream is to ultimately graduate with a PHD, I want to be both an academic and a creative and I hope that KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission won’t stop the FITI programme so that a lot of people can benefit from it the way I and some of my peers did.”
About FITI
The main objective of the ‘KZNFC Film Industry transformation initiative (FITI)’ is to develop a holistic programme that will facilitate the creation of an inclusive, sustainable and transformed film and TV industry in KZN. The programme is geared towards medium-term focussed skills development of previously disadvantaged individuals to increase their participation in senior positions and equipping them to deliver high quality, high-value productions.
About the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission
The KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission is a provincial state entity, under the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa established in terms of the KwaZulu-Natal Commission Act, 2010 (Act No 3 of 2010). Its mandate is to facilitate support throughout the value chain to the local and international film industry through creating opportunities and also growing the KwaZulu-Natal film industry.