Ster-Kinekor confirms its adjusted 2021 movie slate: Promises Tom Cruise in Top Gun and Mission Impossible 7, the 9th Fast & Furious and that elusive Bond.

by Thinus Ferreira

While South African cinemas struggle to lure back moviegoers, Ster-Kinekor has confirmed its adjusted film release slate for 2021 that will include Tom Cruise's Top Gun and Mission Impossible return, the 9th tyre-burning Fast & Furious, the reboot Dune sci-fi spectacle and just maybe that long-stalled next 007 movie.

Ster-Kinekor that entered business rescue in January says that it is "massively excited for the upcoming slate of Hollywood blockbusters whilst cinemas continue to dole out much-needed doses of escapism".

Ster-Kinekor says that nearly 1 million moviegoers in South Africa have visited the cinema since theatres were allowed to open at the end of August 2020 following the Covid-19 shutdown, and according to the cinema chain "the outlook for the remainder of 2021 is positive".

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) last week released its shocking 2020 South African film report, detailing how South Africa's 2020 total box office revenues plunged R1.2 billion to just R214 million compared to 2019 - the lowest in a decade due to the Covid-19 shutdown.

"The Covid-19 vaccine has started to restore consumer confidence and individuals have begun to adapt to the 'new normal' of social distancing and sanitising. As South Africans become more comfortable with resuming out-of-home entertainment activities they have a plethora of top-class cinematic features to look forward to," says Ster-Kinekor.

In its adjusted Hollywood film slate, Ster-Kinekor plans to release the following films this year, although no specific premiere dates are attached yet.

The list includes the notoriously delayed No Time to Die, the 25th James Bond instalment that will be the final turn of Daniel Craig as the British "007" spy. The film's release date has been pushed back multiple times with 8 October 2021 that is the latest date. 

Here is Ster-Kinekor's latest adjusted Hollywood slate for 2021 that it plans to show in South Africa:

Wrath of Man

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Cruella

A Quiet Place 2

Fast & Furious 9

Black Widow

Top Gun: Maverick

Jungle Cruise

Free Guy

Dune

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

No Time to Die

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Mission Impossible 7

ALSO READ: South Africa's 2020 total box office revenues plunged R1.2 billion to just R214 million compared to 2019 - the lowest in a decade - due to the Covid-19 shutdown.

M-Net looking to produce a new range of new local South African films in all languages and genres; calling on filmmakers to submit their original ideas.

M-Net is looking to produce a range of new local South African films in all languages and is calling in South African filmmakers to submit their original ideas for contemporary stories in various genres.

In the past three years, M-Net that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, has backed more than 40 theatrical feature films under the M-Net Movies, Mzansi Magic and kykNET Films banners, including Happiness is a Four Letter Word and Vir Altyd.

"Movies have been the heartbeat of our business right from the start," says Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO.

"Through the years we committed ourselves to develop and boost our own film industry - first with initiatives like the New Directions and EDiT short films project and more recently by supporting an increasing number of authentic local feature films - both financially and creatively."

"We are incredibly proud of the slate of films linked to our stable and it's encouraging to know that plenty of these beautifully made movies have been the work of first-time directors or screenwriters," says Yolisa Phahle.

"In our quest to continue to add value to the local film landscape, we identified some gaps. Hence the decision to give local movie makers another opportunity to pitch their ideas for great new films."

"This is a fantastic opportunity for new filmmakers to break into the industry or for veterans to get the green light for their next big film."

M-Net is now specifically looking for feature films in certain comedy and action sub-genres, as well as films based on successful vernacular novels that can be adapted for cinema.

kykNET Films is also planning to create and develop a Cape-based romantic comedy or family saga in Afri-kaaps.

In the action genre M-Net is inviting proposals for suspense thrillers and adventure stories.

No matter what the genre is, the stories should be authentically South African, reflecting the country's current reality and be void of sensationalism and cultural stereotypes.

M-Net also wants to see pitches that demonstrate a keen understanding of the specific film genre and the music should be reflective of the story and include as many relevant South African music tracks as possible.

The closing date for submissions is Monday 14 November 2016 and must be done through M-Net's corporate website here