Slovenia

[SI] Slovenian Film Centre on the Way

IRIS 2011-8:1/41

Denis Miklavcic

Union Conference of Freelance Workers in Culture and Media (SUKI)

After the adoption of Zakon o Slovenskem filmskem centru, javni agenciji (Slovenian Film Centre Law, public agency - ZSFCJA) in October 2010 the Slovenski filmski center (Slovenian Film Centre - SFC) acquired a managing director who took the first steps towards giving a fresh impetus to the Slovenian film industry (see IRIS 2010-5/37 and IRIS 2010-3/36).

The SFC was established in January 2011 in accordance with a request of Računsko sodišče Republike Slovenije (Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia - RSRS) based on the Zakon o javnih skladih (Public Funds Act - ZJS-1).

The SFC shall become the most important pillar of the development of Slovenian cinematography, the managing director announced in his programme. He believes producers to be the main partners of the SCF and sees his tasks not only in disseminating financial means but also in supporting producers regarding the production itself and in finding partners.

Furthermore he wants to conduct research on the impact the audiovisual industry has on the national economy and employment in order to support his ambition to boost local and non-budgetary financial sources and to raise awareness of the benefits film production is able to generate. The target is to raise the production of Slovenian feature films up to 8-10 productions per year.

The SFC launched a public debate on the proposed procedures regarding the entry to a competition, selection criteria, eligible costs and the mode of co-financing film projects. The public debate is open until 15 September 2011.

In addition the SFC has already published a call for proposals for film projects for 2011. It includes feature films, short- and medium-term film projects, co-financing of first feature films, co-production projects, the development of animated, documentary and feature films, co-financing of script development of animated, documentary and feature films, co-financing of blow-up and transfer and the co-financing of film festivals. The total budget is over four million Euro. The deadline for applications is 5 September 2011.

The SFC will this year also support the digitalisation of Slovenian cinema, film education and the functioning of professional societies.