Experience

Martin Cuff is an economic development specialist with  a unique focus on the film industry. His career has been dedicated to  understanding how film sectors function, the pressures and trends that  influence their successes or failures, and the role of governments in  providing dedicated services and programs that support its growth.
He is  internationally recognized as an authority on Film Commissions and Film  Offices, and on government interactions with the film sector. He has provided  support to governments at national, state, provincial and city levels, and is  the only professional to have set up Film Commissions on three  continents

Experience includes:

  • CAPE FILM COMMISSION  – Business Plan & Strategy – Executive Director
  • COLORADO FILM  COMMISSION – Film Commission Establishment – Executive Director
  • SERBIA FILM  COMMISSION – Film Commission establishment
  • GEORGIAN NATIONAL FILM  COMMISSION – Film Commission establishment and Film Incentive  Development
  • EASTERN CAPE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – Film Sector  Strategy
  • NELSON MANDELA BAY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Film  Feasibility Study, Film Office Establishment
  • DURBAN FILM OFFICE – Film  Sector Review & Strategy, Film Office Business Plan
  • KZN FILM  COMMISSION – Film Commission Establishment
  • GAUTENG FILM COMMISSION -  Provincial Film Permit Review
  • KENYA FILM COMMISSION – Development  Support
  • AMATHOLE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY – Film Development  Strategy
  • MIRAGE LEISURE GROUP – Durban Film Studio Feasibility  Assessment
  • ASSOCIATION OF FILM COMMISSIONERS INTERNATIONAL – Official Film  Commission Training Manual – Workforce Development
  • ASSOCIATION OF FILM  COMMISSIONERS INTERNATIONAL – Official Film Commission Training Manual –  Building a Film Incentive
  • SOUTH AFRICAN SCREEN FEDERATION – Strategic  Planning
  • BUFFALO CITY MUNICIPALITY – Economic Development Plan
  • WESGRO  Western Cape Development Agency – City of Cape Town Business Constraints -  Film Sector review
  • ASSOCIATION OF FILM COMMISSIONERS INTERNATIONAL -  Presenter of “Film Commissioner as Economic Developer” at AFCI Cineposium  2007
  • SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF STILLS PRODUCERS – Association  Management
  • SOUTH AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC RENTAL ASSOCIATION
  • NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION OF MODEL AGENCIES
  • SITHENGI – Chief Operations Officer
  • CAPE  TOWN FILM PERMIT OFFICE – Acting Manager
  • SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF  STILLS PHOTOGRAPHERS – Chairman
  • INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS ORGANISATION –  National Executive Council Member
  • SOUTHERN AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM &  TV MARKET – Director
  • ASSOCIATION OF FILM COMMISSIONERS INTERNATIONAL –  Director

Martin has also planned and executed outbound missions of film  professionals to various international expos and festivals including Cannes  Film Festival (France), MIPCOM/TV (France), FESPACO (Burkina Faso) and AFCI  Locations Trade Show (Los Angeles). He also managed South African delegations  to the Indian International Film Convention in Mumbai (2003 and  2004).

Constantly reading and researching the marketplace, Martin  comes armed with a vast array of projects and programs that can be applied to  your area – harnessing film sector activity locally, and generating maximum  economic benefits. Programs on offer include Film Office Feasibility, Film  Commission Establishment, Film Sector Reviews, Film Sector business planning,  Film Incentive development, Film Commission professional development, Film  Sector Association Management, Film Sector marketing and promotion, Project  Management and Film-Friendliness Programs.

Martin is a member of  the AFCI’s Professional Development Committee, and regularly participates in  AFCI educational and information  forums.