The ICN Interview: Culture Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir Expresses Doubts About RUV’s Actions

Author: ICN Staff / Date: 01.27.10

Culture Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir expresses doubts about RUV Director Páll Magnússon’s decision to stop buying programming from independent producers in an ICN Interview. She says it’s clear that his decision does not conform to the existing Service Agreement between RUV and the government and she will discuss the issue with RUV‘s board this week. The minister also expresses the hope that further cuts will not be made to film funding in next year’s budget.

Conducted through email, the interview follows:

On the cuts in film funding

ICN: What‘s behind the decision to cut film funding by 23% from last year, when average cuts to other arts are around 5%?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: The cuts vary. Institutions were asked to cut down by 6.5-8%, funds by 10-15%, The Icelandic Opera by 20% and other elements were cut down by up to 100% The average cut is therefore around 10%. The film fund has been getting big increases for several years, as is evident in the following table, and that‘s the reason for the large cut. In spite of a cut in 2009, funding in 2010 will be higher than in 2006. This also applies to some other funds who have got big increases in recent years.

The Icelandic Film Centre
	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Contribution in millions	313	372	515	560	590	450
Change between years	-	19%	38%	9%	5%	-24%

ICN: The Producers Association has pointed out that a single króna put forward by the state is multiplied five times with other investment, and that the bottom line is that the state gets more from taxes off filmmaking than it puts into it. Considering this, what economical sense do the cuts make?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: Filmmaking has not reached as strong a foothold as other arts and it is necessary to explore how we can create a stronger environment for it to grow. We are putting together a committee who will look into the conditions here and compare it to the neigbouring countries. This committee will also be asked to evaluate the cultural value of filmmaking. The committe will consist of representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Industry, The Icelandic Film Centre and filmmakers.

Of course filmmaking returns money back to the state, but with the current situation we don‘t have a lot of money for such investment, since we‘re fighting a IKR 200 billion deficit. The next budget will also be very difficult, but after that we hopefully see things get better.

ICN: How do you see the situation of Icelandic filmmaking in light of these cuts?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: It has been a dealt a big blow, like other fields. As I said before, it had received large increases for the past few years and funding in 2010 is at 2006 levels. We‘re on hold at the moment. Hopefully we can spare films from further cuts in next years‘ budget.

On RUV’s decision to cut down programming from independent producers

ICN: RUV‘s Director has announced that he will severely cut down programmes from independent producers. What does this mean in your opinion and how do you regard it?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: It‘s obvious that this decision is not supportive of Icelandic filmmaking. I will discuss it with RUV‘s board this week, for example in regard to the Service Agreement which definately needs to be reviewed.

ICN: How does this decision comply with the Service Agreement which states that „RUV shall take iniative in broadcasting Icelandic culture, arts and cultural heritage. The company shall engage others with the aim of strengthening such efforts“?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: We are looking into whether or not this decision compromises the Service Agreement.

ICN: How does this decision comply with another article in the agreement which states that „RUV shall carry new programmes. RUV shall support and strengthen the production of series, features and documentaries by buying and screening programs from independent producers. RUV shall buy or co-produce TV series, features, documentaries and other material and spend the minimum of IKR 150m pr. year from 2008. In 2009 this amount will be IKR 200m and shall reach IKR 250m at the end of the agreement period“?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: It‘s clear that RUV‘s decision does not conform to the existing Service Agreement between RUV and the government. We will review the matter with RUV, but according to my information they spent IKR 177m on these programmes last year, of the IKR 2.8 billion programming budget.

ICN: The Service Agreement also states that „RUV shall have a programming policy that includes all its media.The policy shall demonstrate the company‘s intent in regard to programming and service to its users.“ Has this policy been put forward?

KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR: RUV has interpreted this article as requiring it to demonstrate the policy by the programming sections themselves. The sections are based on the Service Agreement and apply for up to a year at a time. In my opinion this is one of the points that need to be clarified when the Service Agreement, which expires on March 31st 2012, is reviewed.  The agreement parties do not agree on its definitions, but as with many elements regarding RUV‘s form of business (Note: It was turned into a corporation, solely owned by the State in 2007), definitions about the state‘s funding are not clear enough. For example the state collected a total of IKR 3 billion of broadcasting fees in 2009, but RUV then received IKR 3.575 billion from the treasury. And we know that the IKR 3.220 billion allocated for RUV in the 2010 Budget is more than the broadcasting fee will bring. Reviewing the Service Agreement started in 2009 and will hopefully finish before the spring.

Last Sunday ICN also sent questions to RUV‘s Director, Mr. Páll Magnússon. Despite a reiteration, he has not yet answered.

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