Cultural politics - documents
Comments on the Preliminary Draft of the New Cinema Law — an address to the Minister of Culture
A letter to the Minister of
Culture of the Republic of Croatia: a proposal for a new
non-governmental institution, The Croatian Cinema Foundation
and its legislative inclusion in the new Cinema Law.
The proposal aims at a systematic and institutional solution
to the problem of a stabile system of financing and planning
for Croatian cinema development within the new Cinema Law
that was in preparation. The proposal articulates only
the basic principles, leaving its legislative articulation
to the law experts. The suggestion is to institute THE
CROATIAN CINEMA FOUNDATION. Its aims would be the following:
The preparation of a national film program and various
legislative solutions. The stimulation of free cinematic
creativity. The financial support of cinema production
and cinema enterprise. Attracting international co-production
enterprises in Croatia. Stimulating the presentation of
Croatian films in cinema, theaters and on TV. Support for
the maintenance of technical theatrical standards. The
co-ordination of national and international film festivals
in Croatia. The selection, support and co-ordination of
Croatian film presentations abroad. The co-ordination of
the activity of the proposed Croatian National Film Board.
The maintenance of the cinema register and general cinema
database. The preservation and promotion of the Croatian
cinema heritage and the accessibility of the world cinema
film heritage. The preparation for the establishment of
the Film Institute. The programming and promotion of non-professional
filmmaking and of cinema publishing.
The Foundation could be instituted by the Ministry of
Culture, the Ministry of Finance, and all other relevant
institutions (mentioned in the Law draft). The Foundation
would be a non-governmental institution that would, through
a pre-established program, give support money through public
competitions. The annual program of the Foundation would
be approved by the Parliament, and its Governing Board
would be controlled by a majority of representatives from
the Ministry of Culture. The source for the budget of the
Foundation would be an allocation of part of the State
budget planned for cinema. The Foundation could also be
given a share in the biggest film and theatrical companies,
Jadran film and Kinematografi, in order to secure an independent
source of income.
Ivo Škrabalo |
