David Wicht

David Wicht (born 28 October 1955) is a South African film producer, entrepreneur and founder of Film Afrika Worldwide.
== Early Life & Personal ==
Dawid Frederik Wicht was born in 1955 in Port Elizabeth. He grew up on Robben Island, Saldanha Bay and Cape Town. He is a 13th generation Capetonian. He is married to Caroline and they have three children, Leopold, Augusta and Konstanze. He has published a cookbook: Heart’s Content. He lives in Cape Town and London.
== Career ==
Wicht started his career in film and television as a writer/director. In 1979, he wrote The Native Who Caused All The Trouble
From 1980 onwards he wrote, Film director and Film producer, Documentary film, Advertising media commercials, Music video, Drama (film and television)and Feature film via his production company Film Afrika CC (later called Film Afrika Worldwide CC). 
In late 1980, during a state-of-emergency suppression of media, Wicht relocated to London where he completed a Master of Business Administration at Cranfield School of Management. After the unbanning of the African National Congress and the release of Nelson Mandela, he initiated a film finance venture to encourage film production and investment in South Africa. Films financed through the initiative include A Good Man in Africa|A Good Man In Africa with Sean Connery, directed by Oscar-winning Bruce Beresford and the mini-series Guns Of Honor with Martin Sheen and Jürgen Prochnow. After completing the Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and CableACE Award nominated Mandela and de Klerk for Showtime Networks, starring Sidney Poitier filmography and Michael Caine as well as Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa) drama Inside (1996 film) directed by Arthur Penn, Wicht returned to South Africa in 1995, with the intention of attracting foreign-financed film productions to post-apartheid South Africa. Wicht campaigned for major studios not only to shoot their films in Cape Town and the Western Cape but to set their scripts and storylines in the Cape as well.
Film Afrika with Wicht as CEO is an international film production company in Africa with a filmography of over 250 films and television episodes. Wicht also led co-productions between various international film studios and Film Afrika between 1995 and 2020. Wicht contributed to international investment in the South African FIlm industry through facilitating access to production incentives such as the SA government's rebate system. Film Afrika has attracted direct foreign investment of over R7.5 Billion South African rand|South African Rand ($500 Million) into the country, with over R35 Billion Rand in economic activity and job creation across the country.
Wicht served on the advisory panel of the Department of Arts and Culture (South Africa) and as a Board of directors|board director of The Cape Film Commission. He is a founding member of the Independent Producers Organization (IPO) and served on the Committee#Executive%20committee|executive committee for over 10 years. In the early 1980’s he was a founding member of the now defunct Film & Allied Workers Organisation (FAWO).
In 2010 the Cape Film Commission, together with the National Film & Video Foundation, City of Cape Town and the Government of the Western Cape Provincial Government, awarded Wicht the highest honour in film, the Imbongi Award for “consistent and extraordinary contribution to the growth, promotion and advancement of the Cape and South Africa as a film producing destination.”
==Filmography==
Film, Video and TV Films: Film producer; Executive Producer; Film producer Co-Producer; Line Producer; Film associate Producer
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020) 
Mia and the White Lion (2018)
Deep Blue Sea 2 (2018)
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits
Hector and the Search for Happiness (film)
Sophia Grace & Rosie
SEAL Team 8: Behind Enemy Lines
Heatstroke (2013)
House Party: Tonight's the Night (2013)
Chronicle (film)
Dark Tide (2012)
Yes We Can (2012)
Sniper: Reloaded (2011)
Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010)
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove (2010)
The Last House on the Left (2009 film)
Endgame (2009 film)
The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior (2008)
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder
Goodbye Bafana (2007)
Two Worlds (2007 film)
Primeval (film)
The Breed (2006 film)
Duma (2005 film)
The Poseidon Adventure (2005 film)
Slipstream (2005 film)
Blast (2004 film)
In My Country (2004 film)
Dracula 3000
Consequence (2003)
The Piano Player (2002) 
Promised Land (2002 film) [1]
Robert Patrick#Film
Borderline (2002 film)
Styx (2001)
Second Skin (2000)
Sista kontraktet (1998)
Tarzan and the Lost City
The White Lioness
Windprints (1989) [2]
The Native Who Caused All the Trouble (1989)
Transit Cafe (2001)
An Angel for Chloé (1999)
Diamond Girl (film)
Only Love (1998)
Hard to Forget (1998)
Il segno della scimmia (1997)
Mandela and de Klerk (1997)
La poursuite du vent (1998)
Inside (1996 film)
Satan's Shutes (1987)
Blind Justice (1986)
TV Series & Mini Series: Executive Producer; Executive Production Executive; Television producer#Co-producer
Around the World in 80 Days (2021 TV series)) 
The Watch (TV series)
Grant (miniseries)
The Widow (TV series)
Black Sails (TV series) (2014–2017)
The British (2014)
Dominion (TV series)
Labyrinth (miniseries)
Mankind: The Story of All of Us
Andrew Marr's History of the World
Treasure Guards (2011)
Outcasts (TV series)
Gettysburg (2011 film)
The Lost Future
America: The Story of Us (2010)
Blood and Oil (2010)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (TV series)
African Race - Die verrückte Jagd nach dem Marakunda (2008)
Jonestown: Paradise Lost (2007)
Spring Break Shark Attack
Scout's Safari (2002–2004)
The Diamond Hunters (2001)
Kap der guten Hoffnung (1997– )
As Writer and/or Director
Windprints (1989) 
The Native Who Caused All the Trouble (1989)
Satan's Shutes (1987)
Blind Justice (1986)
Notable Commercial and Music Video
Malcolm McLaren “On The Road In Soweto', 'Punk It Up', 'Zulus On A Timebomb'. Voted into Time (magazine) top ten music videos of the year.
Michael Jackson for Esonic Products, filmed at Sun City (South Africa)
== Nominations & Awards ==
* 1990 AA Life M-Net Vita Awards – Best Film, Director, Script for Windprints. 
* 1997 CableACE Award Nominated, Mandela and de Klerk Showtime Networks
* 2004 Daytime Emmy Daytime Emmy Awards. Outstanding Children's Series for Scout's Safari
* 2010 Imbongi Lifetime Achievement Award.
== Company Affiliations ==
The following film businesses were founded by David Wicht.
Film Afrika Worldwide Pty Ltd
Fleet Star Film Trailers Vehicles Pty Ltd
Motion Picture Licensing Company Pty Ltd
Picture Pay
Filmscape Virtual Studio (established 2022)
== Social Impact ==
=== The South African Film Academy ===
In 2006, Wicht established the Film Industry Learner Mentorship (F.I.L.M.) program with Quinton Fredericks to create opportunities for racial and gender diverse people who had been disadvantaged by apartheid. FILM, now called the South African Film Academy provides hands-on mentored, remunerated, on-set training to specially chosen candidates on international productions. 
==== Green Set ====
Greenset places Eco Stewards on film sets to faciliate waste management and recycling, including elminating all plastic water bottles. Greenset is the world leader in creating a replicable model for sensible, responsible, economical, sustainable film production, while striving for a carbon-neutral production footprint. This non-profit was just awarded it’s 3rd Environmental Media Association|EMA International Gold Green Seal. Greenset is touted by networks such as Netflix and HBO as a model for changing the waste and carbon footprint on their productions worldwide.
==== Academy of Creative Excellence (ACE) ====
This division of SAFA focuses on developing film creators rather than crew members. ACE carefully selects a handfull of promising film makers and places them on major international productions where they have insider access to the creative processes whilst simultaneously being mentored in the development of their own content.
==== FilmGro Driving Academy ====
Film workers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds often do not have the means to obtain driving licenses, which limits their career growth. SAFA launched the Driving Academy with cars and instructors sponsored by Suzuki to provide free driving lessons and help with obtaining a driving license.
==== Film 4 Offenders ====
This SAFA programme seeks to identify juveniles in detention prior to release who might benefit from learning film-making skills and finding employment in the film industry.
==== Kwaai City ====
SAFA created the online YouTube content platform Kwaai City where emerging ‘filmpreneurs’ can showcase their films.
Category:1955 births
Category:South African film producers
Category:South African businesspeople