The City of Cape Town has announced the approval of a lease agreement for part of a city-owned property in Paardevlei, Somerset West, which will see the construction of a R900-million film set by Cape Point Film Studios (CPFS).

CPFS says it aims to convert the existing buildings on the site into a functional film studio facility that will meet international standards.

Once the development is completed and operating successfully, the company plans to also develop a sea and underwater sound stage production precinct.

“We thank the City of Cape Town for taking this journey with us because, as practitioners in the film industry, we know first-hand how fast the content and filmmaking industry is developing,” says CPFS director Henry F Herring.

“The need for more strategic interventions, such as world-class sound stages to service this growth not only helps filmmakers tell their stories, but also contributes substantially to the sustainable expansion of the film sector with its 1:4 multiplier effect to its value chain, all the while creating more jobs.

“We believe that Cape Point Film Studios will respond meaningfully to these needs, and once again position our country and continent as an attractive filmmaking destination.”

City of Cape Town Economic Growth MMC James Vos believes the lease approval will catalyse the continued growth of Cape Town’s creative economy.

“This lease carries the potential to create hundreds of jobs, generate almost R1-billion in the local economy, and boost tourism to Cape Town.

“The creative economy is one of the top-performing sectors in the city.

“According to the South African Cultural Observatory mapping study of 2022, the cultural and creative industries contributed R161-billion to the country’s gross domestic product in 2020,” adds Vos.

“With [Cape Town’s] Economic Growth Directorate finalising this lease, we can further invest in Cape Town as a must-visit destination. This project will not only enhance Cape Town’s status as a leading creative hub, but also solidify its position as a destination of choice for home-grown and global productions.”