Film industry in Mauritius: A shooting star in the making

The Mauritius Film Development Corporation claims to have put Mauritius on the global cinema map. Indeed, the local film industry is booming, with several international shootings carried out regularly. This burgeoning sector aims to become an important economic pillar. According to the Chairman of the Mauritius Film Development Corporation, Dick Ng Sui Wa, the institution has experienced moments of glory since the new team took over last year. The MFDC operates both as a promotional institution and as a facilitating agency for filming short and feature films. The number of international producers to shoot films and documentaries in Mauritius are multiplying and the country is viewed as an ideal destination. Besides feature films, many commercials and TV shows are being shot here. Among the filmmakers who choose Mauritius, there are Indian, Chinese, Turkish, Russian and European producers. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"14180","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-23565","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"600","height":"448","alt":"film-shooting"}}]] The economic impact Film shooting has substantial economic benefits. The country benefits in terms of media coverage, economic contribution, cultural and tourism exchanges, among other things. Among them:

• Job creation: technician, actors, junior artists, photography directors, cameramen, sound directors, image professionals, 3D artists, film distributors, script writers, designers, carpenters, electricians, make-up artists, dancers and various indirect jobs in the transport catering and hospitality sector
• Creating opportunities for hotels, airlines, restaurants, designers of costumes, equipment rental and other service providers
• Tourism benefits: greater awareness about the country and its tourism landscape
• Cultural issues: development of talents and local artists, cultural and tourist activities that place Mauritius through the cinema on the world map.

The tourism benefits represent another motivation. If the film is seen by millions of people, a good number of them would be tempted to visit Mauritius after seeing local scenes. The film ‘Break Up Guru’, shot entirely in Mauritius, has been seen by an audience of over 40 million in China and Chinese tourism has increased by over 500%, according to the MFDC. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"14181","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-23566","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"600","height":"400","alt":"film-shooting-1"}}]] There is no compilation of accurate figures on the exact economic contribution of the film industry. But according to Dick Ng Sui Wa, after consulting the Board of Investment and various stakeholders in the sector, it can safely be said that this sector contributes a lot more than we actually believe. Local production such as the Seven-Day Challenge, sponsored entirely by the MFDC, with messages through these films whose themes are about social problems has been well received by the public: 42 movies submitted and supported by the MFDC. There is the inter-college competition, the Rodrigues competition, a film for independence, the festival of Australian/ Mauritian films, Anglo-Mauritian films, Sino-Mauritian films. There is also an agreement with France for the French CNC presence in Mauritius with Mauritian directors.

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[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"14182","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-23567 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"221","height":"286","alt":"Me-Dick-Ng-Sui-Wa"}}]]Me Dick Ng Sui Wa: “Revenue of Rs 2 to 3 billion by 2018”

What are the achievements of the MFDC till now? Obviously, implementing what the legislation asks us to do, and also delivering what we promised to do: a new lively sector, a higher contribution in foreign currency, job creation and be a pillar of the Mauritian economy. With the country considered as an ideal shooting destination, tourism will definitely benefit. By the way, remember that it was Xavier-Luc Duval, DPM and a visionary Minister of Tourism who introduced the Film Rebate Scheme in 2012. With the Seven-Day Challenge, we support nearly 40 local producers and filmmakers; we have already seen the result: the films that deal with social problems have been well received by the Mauritian public on MBC. Mauritians love to watch a movie in Creole and they can identify themselves with characters in such films. Do you have an idea of the level of income generated by the film industry? We are close to one billion rupees through 85 films shot in Mauritius last year and already 29 since the beginning of this year! There is a potential for higher growtn this year. With a minimalist budget of Rs 9 million, we are the most profitable state exporter of services in Mauritius in terms of return on investment. Several other sectors of the economy benefit, directly and indirectly, and this has a significant multiplier effect. I must say that the sponsors of Mauritian companies such as Mauritius Telecom, Airports of Mauritius, Air Mauritius, SBM and others allowed us to finance the Seven-Day Challenge with 27 films selected each with Rs 50,000 subsidies and 12 films subsidised at Rs 25,000 each; I must congratulate the highly motivated staff of the MFDC who works tirelessly and with full dedication... Let’s not forget the support of the minister, Mr. Santaram Baboo whose advices are valuable; he has understood the stakes for the country. What are your future projects? There will be a festival and an inter-college competition, the signing with the AFDA (South African film school with three antennas in South Africa) a Memorandum of Understanding for courses in Mauritius, a production agreement with the CNC (national Cinema Centre, the equivalent of the MFDC in France) which I have had the opportunity to negotiate to promote exchange between Mauritian and French producers, cooperation with the British Embassy for a British film festival to commemorate the 400 years of the birth of Shakespeare, an Australian film festival in July of this year, a Sino-Mauritian film festival in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of China, among others. We also aim to equip ourselves with film materials and provide Mauritian professionals with these facilities. An example: we had an energetic promotion campaign in Berlin for the film festival and we solicited the contribution of the Embassy of Mauritius in Berlin and the Minister himself. We returned with almost a billion-rupee project for this year through 4 long films and a TV serial. Mr. Ulf Israel, world famous German producer whose film ‘The Danish Girl’ received several nominations at the Oscars this year, is in Mauritius this week as guest of honour for the Award Night of Seven-Day Challenge taking place on April 1st. He already has a film project that will be shot entirely in Mauritius with 70% of Mauritian staff, so an opportunity for our professionals! It's a film with a 10-million Euro budget, or 400 million rupees! How do you promote Mauritius? Promotion is done on the ground and not sitting at the office; this is a small but much specialised area that requires direct contact, in order to encourage them to come. After all, our choice argument is that Mauritius has no film city but is itself an open studio; there are not just beaches, we are not the Seychelles or the Bahamas, instead we have it all here: business districts, Chinatown, Indian type villages, French colonial castles, but also Plaine Verte, Chamarel, forests, the old city of Port Louis, etc. We convinced 120 foreign producers of feature films, short films, documentaries, commercials etc: 23 from India, 11 from South Africa, 10 from France, 6 from Reunion, 6 from UK, 3 from Germany, 3 from China, 3 from Arab Emirates, but also Pakistan, Russia, Australia, Switzerland, Kenya, Holland, Czech, Turkey, Japan, and this is only the beginning. That said, there are also at least 4 companies known worldwide for film studios willing to set up branches in Mauritius; I will give more details when this is signed. I have also proposed that film producers use our financial services here. The next budget is fast approaching. What are your proposals for your sector? We need more staff and premises worthy of the name. I am convinced that if we have the resources, we will reap between Rs 2 billion and Rs 3 billion in direct investments to the country by 2018! I propose to raise the Film Rebate Scheme to 35% if producers recruit at least two thirds of professionals among Mauritians. I also want to create a promotional catalogue for the MFDC. I wish the government increases the budget of the MFDC to allow us to better promote the country and expand our activities. How can small entrepreneurs benefit better from the film industry? The CSR must cover the sector, it’s imperative! Arrangements with banks for facilities for our local producers, providing them with a service promotion for their films abroad, give them incentives such as Seven-Day Challenge. The private sector and large companies must support the industry as unfortunately this is not currently the case. We must professionalise the sector, encourage co-productions with international directors. We can do it. We will strive to do it.