The current government view of the future of the Icelandic film industry.
The government has some explaining to do. How come it proposes a 34% cut in film funding, while only suggesting an average 4% cut in other arts funding, with none going above 6%?
Yes, filmmakers are well aware of the dire financial straits we’re in. As a matter of fact, few know more about such matters than filmmakers, as kreppa is almost a general state of affairs in films. And yes, filmmakers do understand the need to cut down state expenditure.
But why this extreme difference? Who’s bright idea was it to cut film funding by more than all other arts funding cuts combined?
Culture Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir is quoted in a newspaper interview as saying that the film industry is not being singled out.
The filmmaking community disagrees.
Is the government and the legislature not aware of the following?:
Each króna invested by the State in films generates six krónur in other investment, resulting in more revenue for the state than it contributes to films.
Icelandic films, TV series and documentaries generally enjoy huge support from the public; with very high average attendance at cinemas (around 6% of the population) and remain constant rating winners on television.
Icelandic films, TV series and documentaries travel the entire planet; regularly picking up awards and recognitions at festivals large and small and regularly screened at cinemas or on television in many countries. They remain one of the largest factors of introducing our culture to the world and one of the biggest reasons tourists give for visiting the country.
The proposed cut will destroy around 100 jobs (a third of the filmmaking workforce), kill many projects at financing stage and thus result in the bankruptcies of many film production companies.
The proposed cut will therefore make it very difficult to service the international productions relying on local expertise, thus resulting in even more loss of revenue, both to the industry and the state.
The film industry has had one of its major revenue sources almost wiped out already, with around 80% contraction in commercials film production.
State funding for films makes both good economic and cultural sense. It is vital to our future as we go about rebuilding our country after the crash. The budget proposal is a folly, out of all proportion and going straight against national interests.
Shall we just call it a typo and forget about the whole sorry thing?
I celebrate your article – it´s all obvious and true. So why cripple the industry? Because films will show the hypocrisy and hopelessness of Icelandic life. There´s a fear that film-makers will expose the lies and cowardice of Icelandic society. Which of course, is exactly what film-makers should do. Like a friend of mine in the industry said, 20 years ago: “Icelanders are liars and thieves.” Back then, I was shocked : )
As a foreign fan of Icelandic cinema, this proposed cut is terrible news indeed. Please communicate to your government how much cinema communicates Icelandic culture to the rest of the world. Cinema is perhaps the only art form that can easily travel around the whole world and in turn bring the whole world to Iceland.
Icelandic Film & TV Production and Service Companies
Axel Johann
October 5, 2009 at 16:33
I celebrate your article – it´s all obvious and true. So why cripple the industry? Because films will show the hypocrisy and hopelessness of Icelandic life. There´s a fear that film-makers will expose the lies and cowardice of Icelandic society. Which of course, is exactly what film-makers should do. Like a friend of mine in the industry said, 20 years ago: “Icelanders are liars and thieves.” Back then, I was shocked : )
James McNally
October 5, 2009 at 20:29
As a foreign fan of Icelandic cinema, this proposed cut is terrible news indeed. Please communicate to your government how much cinema communicates Icelandic culture to the rest of the world. Cinema is perhaps the only art form that can easily travel around the whole world and in turn bring the whole world to Iceland.