Spain

[ES] Increase of Economic Aids to Spanish Cinema, despite the Crisis

IRIS 2009-7:1/17

Laura Marcos and Enric Enrich

Enrich Advocats, Barcelona

Despite the current economic situation, economic aids to Spanish cinema will increase. Specifically, Ignasi Guardians, who recently assumed the management of the Instituto de la Cinematografia y de las Artes Audiovisuales (Spanish Film Institute - ICAA) has decided to increase economic aids to Spanish cinema by EUR 8.6 million.

It is striking that, only six months after the initial fixation of these subsidies, they are increased in such a manner, particularly given the worldwide economic crisis, which has caused a strain on the general budget.

It is worth highlighting that the Fondo de Protección de la Cinematografía (Cinematographic Protection Fund) had already been granted EUR 88 million for the year 2009, i.e., EUR 3 million more than last year, when the crisis was not yet in evidence. To this amount, the EUR 8.6 million granted by the ICAA will now be added. Moreover, in addition to the Spanish State funds, EUR 11.5 million is available as aids and subsidies extended by the various Autonomous Communities.

As was initially decided last December, the subsidies have been earmarked for feature film scripts, for the production of short films, for the direction of feature films by new directors or experimental works with an artistic or cultural content, for documentaries and pilots of animation/entertainment series and, finally, for the distribution of European Union films.

Nevertheless, according to Ignasi Guardians, the scheme is not exactly an increase in economic aid, but a “relocation” of the same. That is to say, in each financial year, a set amount is established which is designated for animation series and R&D. When, due to a variety of reasons, these subsidies are not used, they are “relocated” as economic aids on behalf of the ICAA for feature films, short films, scripts and distribution. The last two categories are not limited solely to the cinematographic market, but extend to the audiovisual market in general.