Representation, Creativity and Commercialism in the Post-Apartheid Film Industry Since the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa has been in the process of redefining itself as a nation. The newly elected government recognised the potential role of cinema in democratic transformation and economic empowerment and established a number of strategic interventions and government bodies to foster the growth of the local industry. Similar to other forms of cultural production, cinema is informed by the national Constitution of 1996, which celebrates multiculturalism, freedom of expression, and transformation. However, it is questionable whether this vision is compatible with the state's ambition to build an internationally competitive, and commercially successful film industry. This paper provides a critical analysis of the economic and ideological workings of the post-apartheid feature film industry. The focus is on international co-productions, which have been encouraged by the state since such arrangements are seen to...
