October 30 2025 16:00
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
After 25 years in the industry, film locations agency and luxury real estate brand Amazing Spaces has announced plans to acquire Western Cape real estate group, Blue Chip Properties.
With uncertainty in the film industry and growing concerns about how AI could affect the future of film shoots on location, expanding the real estate division of their business comes at a critical time, Julia Finnis-Bedford, who founded Amazing Spaces said.
Founded in 2000 by Finnis-Bedford, she said Amazing Spaces “began as a visionary solution for the South African film industry, pioneering the concept of a location agency when no such service existed”.
The company has grown from sourcing locations for films, commercials and photographic productions to representing fancy properties from around the country.
“Blue Chip Properties are well-known in the local Constantia Valley area for their impeccable service and long-standing relationships that span 26 years. I’ve known the founders, Fay Lamond and Vanya Futter, for a long time, having first met Fay’s mum who sold me a house many years ago,” Finnis-Bedford said.
“Like us, they are a boutique agency who put people before sales, which naturally resonates with me. Combined with our approach at Amazing Spaces to drive creative, story-driven marketing of properties, this feels like a step in the right direction,” she said.
Finnis-Bedford said the merged entity would accelerate growth and offer clients a more comprehensive service.
Once the acquisition was complete, Futter would continue in the business for two years focusing on sales and administration during the handover period, while Lamond will stay on indefinitely as a sales agent in Upper Constantia.
“The timing for an acquisition is perfect. We have had offers to sell over the years but mostly from big companies that our agents didn’t want to join. Amazing Spaces is who we have been waiting for and we believe the united team will be a force to be reckoned with,” said Lamond.
“It is incredibly exciting for me because we are creating a legacy, ensuring there is longevity through co-branding,” said Futter.
Both the film locations sector and residential real estate market have seen changes over the past 25 years, with rising costs and technological advancements. To remain relevant, agencies must adapt or risk obsolescence.
“Having experienced a financial crisis in 2008 and a pandemic in 2020, I’ve become a more resilient business leader. Now, with AI disrupting the industry staying ahead is essential. Through this acquisition we’re embracing a fresh approach with a new logo, contemporary marketing strategy and innovative ideas,” said Finnis-Bedford.
Once finalised, Amazing Spaces’ focus areas will extend from the Constantia Valley through to the Deep South, City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard and Western Seaboard of Cape Town. The company will continue marketing properties to global film production agencies.
alistair@propertyflash.co.za
