Q. What are the application criteria for Individual applicants to the Fund?

A: The eligibility criteria for individual applicants are aimed at supporting and offering some relief to those workers who have been hit the hardest with the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to be eligible for a grant, each applicant must:

• provide evidence that her/his job function is on the approved list as listed above;
• have been resident, legally, in South Africa since at least 1 March 2018;
• provide evidence that s/he has worked in the South African Screen Sector for at least two years since 1 March 2018;
• demonstrate that her/his primary source of income has been from the Screen Sector from at least 1 March 2018;
• establish and describe financial need;
• provide contact details of at least two (2) referees, one of which may include the applicant’s agent (with her/his details provided), plus the name/s of specific production/s) to confirm that s/he has worked in the Sector during the qualifying period.

NOTE: Applicants may have been recipients of other grants. This is not a criterion for eligibility – but data will be gathered for statistical purposes. Any grants received since March 1st 2019 or that you are confirmed to receive within the next 6 months must be declared and described.

Q. What are the application criteria for applications to the Fund from Industry Associations?

A: A second objective of the Screen Sector Support Fund is to provide relief to Industry Organisations that have been supporting workers including producers, crew, performers, administrators and others in the Screen Sector who are affected by the pandemic.

The eligibility criteria for Industry Organisation applicants is aimed at assisting those organisations whose work has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – helping to bolster them in continuing the work that they do in support of their members and the overall Screen Sector.

Industry Organisations are invited to apply for a grant for operational expenses (not for project or new initiative funding). The amount of any grant awarded will be determined taking into account some/all of the following factors:

• the total pot of money available for distribution to industry organisations that apply for grants;
• the financial health of the organization;
• the specific work of the organization;
• the recognized role and importance of the organization in respect of representing and safeguarding the interests of the country’s Screen Sector.

Industry Organisation applicants must:

• have been constituted, registered and operating in South Africa since at least March 1st, 2016;
• have worked in and represented members from the Screen Sector since at least March 1st 2016;
• be a registered PBO – any Organisation that is not a PBO will not be eligible;
• show (including with independent confirmation) that they have offered support to members and to the Screen Sector before and during the Screen Sector before and during the pandemic.

NOTE: Applicants may have been recipients of other grants. This is not a criterion for eligibility – but any such grants received since March 1^st 2019 and/or confirmed to be received within the next 6 months must be declared and described.

Q. Are there any supporting documents that must be sent/submitted with an application?

A: Yes. While we don’t want to make this process difficult for applicants, we also want to make sure that the people and Industry Organisations that most deserve assistance from the fund will benefit. Therefore, applicants will need to provide a number of documents necessary to prove their identity, confirm that they are eligible and describe their need.

For individual applicants, these include:

• Certified South African ID document or passport;
• If a foreign national, a certified work permit or permanent residence document;
• Evidence that s/he has worked in – and obtained her/his primary income from – the SA Screen Sector for at least two years since 1 March 2018 – e.g. pay slips, contract/s, etc.;
• A least two (2) references attesting to your work during this period (e.g. from a production company) plus the name/s of the specific production/s – as evidence that the applicant has worked in – and gained her/his primary income from – the Screen Sector during the qualifying time period;
• Three months of bank statements (these can be online statements or from the bank);
• A bank account letter confirming the details of the account into which funds will be deposited if the application is successful;
• Proof of residence (e.g. utility or retail bill, lease agreement or affidavit from a police station);
• Disclosure of other grants received since March 1^st 2019 or expected by the end of September 2021;
• A Letter of motivation to introduce yourself, explain what relief or assistance you are requesting and why you need it;

For Industry Organisation applicants, requirements include:

• Confirmation of PBO status – i.e. valid PBO letter and PBO Number;
• Documentation for the Organisation (including a copy of the current Constitution of the Organisation, memorandum of incorporation and/or trust deed);
• A copy of the current BBBEE certification or BEE Affidavit (if one is available);
• Details of the membership (but no personal details of individual members);
• Details of two (2) contactable referees in the creative industries who are not within the governance structure of the organisation – who can confirm that the Organisation has worked in and represented members from the Screen Sector since at least March 1st 2016;
• Tax clearance certificate and/or Tax PIN;
• Stamped bank letter confirming bank details (this is the account to which any grant awarded will be deposited);
• The latest six (6) months bank statements;
• Most recent Annual Financial Statements (no older than 18 months) preferably audited
• Management accounts for the past 6 months;
• Cashflow forecast – for at least 6 months ahead (to the end of September 2021);
• Details of donations and/or grants received or expected;
• A Letter of Motivation to introduce the organisation and its work/mission/impact, explain what relief or assistance is being requested and why it is needed;
• Details of Board members (Trustees, Directors, Executive Committee (EXCO) members etc.) sufficient to satisfy FICA review.

Q: How will you decide who receives payouts from the Fund?

A: All applications received will be screened by Tshikululu to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements.

Following this stage, qualifying applications will be evaluated by a Selection Committee consisting of qualified individuals (selected by the Screen Sector Support Fund founders and major donors) who will review applications and determine which applicants will receive grants.

Q: Your application process allows for both electronic and physical submissions. How will you ensure that the speed that electronics has with submitting applications doesn’t disadvantage those who are sending applications by physical mail?

A: We acknowledge that internet access can be a challenge for some applicants. Therefore, the Selection Committee has ensured that the evaluation process is conducted in a way that provides for physical mail applications to be evaluated concurrently with the electronic applications – as long as packets of paper/physical are marked as posted/mailed by the deadline and taking into account potential mail delivery delays.

Q: How much might I receive as an individual?

A: Each successful applicant is eligible for a R15 000 one-time benefit.

Q: How much will successful Industry Associations receive?

A: The grant amount for any successful Industry Organisation will be determined taking into account some/all of the following factors:

• The total number of organisations applying and the total amount of money in the Fund available for those applicants;
• The financial health of the organization (as confirmed by the various detailed financial paperwork that is submitted);
• The specific work of the organization;
• The recognized role and importance of the organization in respect of representing and safeguarding the interests of the country’s Screen Sector – including confirmation by referees and any other supporting documentation.

Q: How long must applicants wait to receive the payout?

A: We want the process to be as agile and efficient as possible. However, parts of the process (especially FICA review) take time (regardless of the COVID-19 situation – but, likely, extended because of it) and Tshikululu is not able to control that timing.

Applicants will receive updates from Tshikululu during the process – and successful recipients should not wait more than two weeks to get the payout from the date they’ve been notified that their FICA review has been successful.

For the Individual – https://sssi.co.za/criteria-for-individuals

For the Organisation – https://sssi.co.za/criteria-for-organisations/