The Swedish government and twelve film and television partners agreed last week on the new Film Agreement governing the local film industry until 2015. Although film funding remains lower than what had been hoped for, the partners agreed on the new modernised film law which eases distribution rules and allows non-theatrical films to receive support.
This ground-breaking ruling was agreed upon even by exhibitors who had been reluctant to let go of the old distribution model. "The theatrical window is still where Swedish films make most money and it is the most important for the Swedish film sector," said Thomas Runfors, head of information for the Swedish cinema chain SF Bio to the news agency TT Spektra.
The ‘neutral window' Film Agreement was reached although some of the future key beneficiaries -DVD, digital distributors and broadband operators- refused to join the film partners and contribute to the future Swedish film budget. This was a major setback, but two new partners joined in: the network of regional film production centres - represented by Film i Väst's CEO Tomas Eskilsson - and SBS TV, owner of Kanal 5.
Total film budget for the period covering 2013-2015 will therefore be upped by SEK30 million, reaching SEK380 million per year. The government will slightly raise its own annual contribution from SEK185 million to SEK200 million. For the first time, money will be earmarked towards TV drama, and extra funds will be invested in features for children and youth, short and documentary films. The budget to fight the rampant piracy in Sweden will be raised by SEK3.3 million to SEK9 million and the 40/60 gender criteria for film support will be replaced by an equal split between men and women. Among the key objectives to be met by 2015 are for Swedish film to have the largest market share in the Nordic region across all windows and for Swedish films to increase its domestic admissions.
"This is a historic agreement, said Björn Rosengren, head of the Swedish Film and TV Producers' Association, one of the co-signatories. "It benefits not only Swedish film, but also the Swedish audience." For Film i Väst's CEO Eskilsson, the ‘window neutral' film policy opens up opportunities for new distribution and business models, an essential element to ‘maximise the visibility and the audience of artistically interesting films."
For him, the new Film Agreement still remains under-funded hence his decision to join the Film partners to lobby the government, from the inside. "The future need for strong -especially public- investments remains", he said.
For details of the Film Agreement, check http://www.sfi.se/