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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Diploma in Film Production 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
103101  Advanced Diploma in Film Production 
ORIGINATOR
Cape Peninsula University of Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Diploma  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Film, Television and Video 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0427/24  2024-10-03  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
This qualification also seeks to educate students to be technologically adept, employable on the basis of solid disciplinary knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge, socially responsive, innovative, and environmentally conscious.

Rationale:
The need for such a qualification has been made evident by alumni of the Diploma qualification and by the industry, as voiced by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Media Department Industry Advisory Board (which represents a broad base of industry-specialisations in both film and photography, including corporate films, documentaries, commercials, feature films, and film and photographic servicing of foreign productions), as well as indicated by insight gained from the Associations of Commercial Producers, Screenwriters, Cinematographers and Editors. These sources indicate that, in a complex and growing services-based industry like media, there is a need for an advanced course focusing on the development of both cross-disciplinary skills (e.g journalists becoming film-makers), as well as more in-depth skills.

An advanced diploma addressing these concerns will add value to the national and regional growth patterns of the film industry, which in 2012 contributed R3.5 billion to gross domestic product (National Film and Video Foundation, South African Film Industry Economic Baseline Study, April 2013). The governmental focus on the film industry as a key economic driver, particularly in the Western Cape, provides the qualification with further impetus to address the skills shortage of people from disadvantaged communities in the knowledge economy, and to provide the film industry with graduates who have deeper technical, creative and entrepreneurial skills, thereby assisting the industry develop a local, homegrown film and television industry, as well as to serve the existing corporate, advertising and film-making service industries which drive the local film economy.

This qualification will serve as a follow-on from the Diploma in Film Production, which is based on the existing National Diploma in Film and Video Technology, which educates a student base with a demographic broadly reflective of the national and regional race and sex categories of the country. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The qualification will, on a case-by-case basis, and based on the merits of applications, favourably consider candidates with prior qualifications in non-film-production disciplines (e.g journalism, photography etc) as well as candidates who have achieved a level 6 or 7 of a compatible Bachelor's Degree, and candidates with a sufficient level of industry experience to grant them an RPL.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirements are:
  • Diploma in Film Production.
    Or
  • Diploma in Media Studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.
    Modules:
  • Media Theory, 20 Credits.
  • Film Criticism, 20 Credits.
  • Film Business, 20 Credits.
  • Film Management, 20 Credits.
  • Film Aesthetics, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Source relevant and entertaining film content for the film industry, to a standard of advanced competency as per basic industry standards.
    2. Perform appropriate roles within one of three streams of film production: Directing/Producing, Film Medium and Design, and Post-Production.
    3. Engage with the film industry in a professional manner according to best practices, and in ways which engage self-direction, collaboration and innovation. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be assessed in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Identify complex theoretical problems, applying theory-driven arguments, based on integrated knowledge of the main social and cultural theories and approaches to film and media studies.
  • Analyse complex theoretical problems, applying theory-driven arguments, based on integrated knowledge of the main social and cultural theories and approaches to film and media studies.
  • Critically reflect on theoretical problems, applying theory-driven arguments, based on integrated knowledge of the main social and cultural theories and approaches to film and media studies.
  • Apply social science research methodologies in a professional (film industry) context following legitimate research design.
  • Develop an integrated contextualised understanding of the representations of race, gender and sexuality in South African (SA) film.
  • Identify, analyse, critically reflect on and address complex problems based on a contextualised understanding of how South African film relates to the local and global economic forces, and what local and international markets there are for SA films, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.
  • Develop a working understanding of the theory and practice of film narratives as products in the local and international film and television industry.
  • Demonstrate a contextualised understanding of how film businesses work through the application of business science research methodologies in a professional (film industry) context following legitimate research design.
  • Show the ability to network and develop working relationships within the industry, so as to source and negotiate work as a freelance film practitioner, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.
  • Identify, analyse, critically reflect on and address business problems based on a contextualised understanding of freelance business and entrepreneurial skills as a film practitioner.
  • Engage business science research methodologies in a professional context, through identifying information sources, abstracting relevant material from sources, and describing the research succinctly in a professional written tone.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The Exit Level Outcomes will be assessed through a combination of continuous assessment in each of the modules, plus a core integrated project, a film, that calls on the learning from all modules, and produced by all students together. The continuous assessment and integrated project will serve the purposes of integrated assessment and complex pedagogy. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    In terms of this qualification, the international comparability study included the following institutions: New York Filmmaking Academy (USA), Whistling Woods International, Mumbai (India), University of Alaska (USA), Columbia University School of Arts Film (USA), University of Hong Kong (China), Unitech University (New Zealand), University College Dublin (Ireland), Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS), Sydney Film School (Australia), Edinburgh University (Scotland), San Francisco State University, California (USA).

    The international comparability study revealed the following key aspects:
  • University of Hong Kong 3rd year: Semester 1: Gender and Sexuality in Chinese Literature and Film, Asia on Global Screens; Semester 2: Internship in Comparative Literature and Cultural Sectors.
  • New York Film Academy 3rd year: Semester 1: Intermediate Film Post Production, Feature Screenplay 2, Cinematography 3, Semester 2: Directors craft 3a, Screenwriting Short Thesis A, Synchronous Sound Production Workshop 2.
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 3rd year: Lighting Design, Lights, Camera, Audio, Cross-Cultural Filmmaking, Advanced Film and Video Directing, Visualization and Animation, Digital Video Compositing, Dramatic Writing, Special Topics in Film Production, Independent Study, Internship in Film Production, Research, Film Thesis.
  • Whistling Woods, Mumbai 3rd year: Culture and Media Studies 3, Film Appreciation 3, Cinematography, Dissertation (Practical), Diploma Film (Practical).
  • Sydney Film School Advanced Diploma: Advanced Thesis (Writing and Directing), Film Craft, Crew, Story through Sound and Image, Production, Work Placement (Internship).

    The curriculum decisions made about the Advanced Diploma in Film Production derive from an understanding that these international qualifications focus dually on production skills and critical reading skills, into which is built the underpinnings for a scholarly capacity should graduates decide to pursue an academic career. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification offers the following horizontal and vertical articulation opportunities.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Arts in literature or Film Studies,Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in media studies, Level 8.
  • An appropriate Bachelor Honours Degree, Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.