ZenHQ has a $500 million film fund, which is available to all comers and does not require security, pre-sales, sales estimates, bond, or lengthy intercreditor agreements.

Wouldn’t that be sweet!

While we can’t offer you that much that easily, ZenHQ can offer 15% - 35% of the South African spend, which is as soft as a baby’s behind.

Here’s how it works.

The South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has two Film Financing Incentives or Rebates, one for internationally owned projects, and one for treaty co-productions owned locally and internationally. The rebate is based on South African spend only, and ranges from 15% for internationally owned, and 25% - 35% for treaty co-productions. Some spend exclusions and other requirements apply.

To qualify, the internationally owned production must spend a minimum of R12 million in South Africa, and the treaty co-production must spend at least R2.5 million.

The maximum rebate for both is R10 million.

Click here for the one page overview of the incentive. If you would like the detailed briefs (and by “briefs” we don’t mean underwear!), email us and we will send it off to you.

SA Financing Overview

There are basically two major sources of financing in South Africa – the DTI above, and the IDC (Industrial Development Corporation), which provides debt, quasi-equity and equity financing. Contact IDC’s Media & Motion Picture Division directly at www.idc.co.za.

A few SA banks have dabbled in relatively small amounts of film financing. The SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) has announced a film fund, however details have not yet been released. Other funds have been proposed, but proposals are like (fill in the blank) - everyone has one.

If we really, really, really like a project, we will introduce it to one of a handful of international financiers with which ZenHQ has a cozy relationship – or not!