Sponsors pull out from film festival
The founder, Senzo Zindela, said although there was no budget, it was successful.
Senzo Zindela, the founder of the Ugu International Film Festival, says he had to cancel the last day of the event, last Saturday, due to financial issues.
He says the 12th annual festival had a zero budget, but they managed to hold it at Margate Hotel over two days.
Zindela says that he has been working with the same sponsors for years, but they had an issue with the name change of the festival, and he believes that is the reason why they did not come through.
“I decided to call it Ugu International Film Festival because of the impact. We had people from around the world attending. I was told to change it because there can only be one international festival in KZN, and I refused.”
He says even though they had no budget, the event was a success.
“Our main sponsors pulled out at the last minute, and we were forced to think out of the box and introduce breakthrough programmes incorporating global entrepreneurial expertise to attract and sustain open-minded practitioners, especially the private sector.”
Zindela says that the festival has proven to be a formidable event, and that is a catalyst to attract investors and integrate their operations with local economic drivers.
He says prominent business leaders led by the chairman of South Coast Chamber of Commerce, Dick Basday, were present from the opening night until the last day.
“Local business owners have identified that this event must be supported as it boosted their businesses over the weekend. The aim of this event is to attract foreign investors as some flew all the way from London for opportunities to invest in.”
Well-known actors and actresses such as Luthuli Dlamini, Siyabonga Shibe and Andisiwe Dweba attended.
Local businesses, Department of Economic Development KZN and many more were also in attendance.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Fever’s Facebook page
