South Africa’s film and television industry — the heartbeat of local storytelling, jobs and cultural expression — is preparing to take to the streets in late January 2026 in a bold show of unity and concern. Under the banner “Save SA Film Jobs – Fix the DTIC Film Incentive,” cast, crew, writers, producers and supporting industries are organising marches in Cape Town (28 January) and Pretoria (29 January) to draw attention to a crisis many say threatens the sector’s future.

Why This Matters: The DTIC Film & TV Incentive Stalled

At the centre of the industry’s frustration is the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (DTIC) Film and TV Incentive — a government rebate programme designed to attract productions, support local jobs, and drive investment. Previously a cornerstone of South Africa’s creative economy, the incentive is now widely described by industry voices as dysfunctional and stalled.

According to representatives from the Save SA Film Jobs coalition, adjudication meetings for the incentive haven’t occurred since March 2024, leaving a growing backlog of applications unapproved. This has forced productions to delay, downscale or shift to other countries with more reliable support systems, which in turn has eroded investor confidence and significantly reduced local production work.

The Human Cost Behind the Numbers

Before the current impasse, South Africa’s creative sector was estimated to employ approximately 60,000 full-time and freelance workers, with more than 100,000 indirect jobs supported across services such as catering, transportation, studios, costumes and location crews. It also generated an estimated R8-R10 billion in annual production value, attracting around R3.8 billion in foreign direct investment.

But with the incentive’s dysfunction, that engine has sputtered:

• Productions have been delayed or cancelled,
• Freelancers and support crews have lost income,
• Smaller local businesses have been placed under financial strain,
• Young creatives have found fewer opportunities to build sustainable careers.

Industry leaders warn that this isn’t just about funding — it’s about the present and future livelihoods of thousands of workers whose careers depend on a functioning, competitive creative economy.

Who’s Involved in the March

The national march has brought together a broad coalition of organisations representing the creative ecosystem, including:

• Animation SA (ASA),
• South African Guild of Actors (SAGA),
• Independent Producers Organisation (IPO),
• Personal Managers’ Association (PMA),
• Writers’ Guild of South Africa (WGSA),
• South African Screen Federation (SASFED),

These groups represent thousands of workers — from actors and directors to writers, crew members, technical staff and beyond — all calling for urgent reforms to reinvigorate the incentive system and restart approvals.

What the Industry Is Calling For

The protests build on an earlier mobilisation in February 2025, when filmmakers, performers and industry leaders gathered outside the DTIC in Pretoria with a memorandum of demands — including clearer communication, faster rebate approvals, transparent processes, and meaningful engagement from government.

This January’s marches are being framed not as political spectacles, but as urgent advocacy for a vibrant and sustainable creative sector that supports both local culture and economic growth.

Broader Context for Industry Stakeholders

The situation in South Africa isn’t unique globally: creative industries everywhere are navigating evolving economics, international competition, and policy challenges. But what’s clear from the planned marches is that South African creatives do not want to be spectators in their own industry. They want to build, collaborate and thrive here at home.

Other positive signals in the broader ecosystem — such as the upcoming Talents Durban 2026 programme (a key development platform for emerging film professionals across Africa) and initiatives like the Film Cape Town Film Fund supporting local productions — highlight that creative energy and opportunity are still alive even as advocacy for systemic reform continues. (Durban FilmMart Institute)

KingClip’s Perspective

For talent, producers and clients, this moment is a reminder that policy and practice matter — not just for today’s projects, but for tomorrow’s careers. When incentives stall, it affects jobs, casting opportunities, international interest, and the very fabric of creative expression. As the creative community heads into 2026 with energy and expectation — from film markets to animation initiatives to casting calls — the message from the marches is clear:

A thriving industry must be supported by responsive systems that value its people, its stories and its economic potential.

We extend our solidarity with the industry’s call for constructive engagement and sustainable reform — and we will continue to celebrate and amplify the voices of our artists on every screen, set and stage.