Save our cinema!
President Yushchenko promises to help Ukrainian filmmakers
After meeting with staff members of the Dovzhenko Film Studios in Kyiv, President Viktor Yushchenko declared that he is ready and willing to submit a bill to the Ukrainian parliament about the Ukrainian filmmaking industry, reports Interfax Ukraine. The head of state urged all filmmakers and producers to form a “large joint initiative” around that bill and formulate an orchestrated stand in this matter. President Yushchenko also said he will soon sign an edict in support of the national filmmaking industry.
The Day asked its experts about the main problems faced by Ukrainian filmmakers and what should be done to correct the situation.
Hanna CHMIL, head of the State Service of Ukrainian Cinematography:
“Every year Ukraine receives 10,000 foreign-made movies for television and movie theater screening, plus another 10,000 movies in the form of video cassettes and CD/DVD disks that are available on the domestic market. The state budget provides 50 million hryvnias for the production and distribution of national films. With these funds we have been able to produce 5 to 7 feature films and up to 40 documentaries, educational films, and animated cartoons.
“However, the national cinema, as a carrier of creative values, cultural experience, and national traditions, is in a disastrous situation. There are many laws pertaining to the filmmaking sphere, including the Laws of Ukraine “On Cinematography,” “On Copyright and Related Rights,” and, finally, one entitled “On the National Program of the Development of National Film Studios in 2002-07.” This law is aimed at amending the national policy in the filmmaking sphere by replacing direct budget appropriations by a policy of protectionism. Regrettably, many of its clauses (including those concerning the formulation of laws that would provide favorable taxation conditions) have not been implemented. “
Mykhailo ILLIENKO, film director:
“In our country we have a problem of balance between domestic and imported productions. Ninety-nine percent of our market is dominated by foreign films. We badly need legislative changes that would serve as arguments for bankers and entrepreneurs to convince them to invest in domestic projects. We badly need tax concessions and large-scale screening guarantees.
“There is also the important issue of copyright. Today I have nothing to do with any of my productions. Let’s say that a film by a colleague of mine sells for 150 billion dollars and he doesn’t get a cent. Another important issue that was raised during the meeting with President Yushchenko was setting up a screening network. The state will have to revive this network, because it was privatized at one time and today it has vanished. The president has taken a very important stand: cinema is perhaps the most powerful factor in the formation of national consciousness. We are all spectators. We are all strongly influenced by films and television programs. Therefore, filmmaking is an industry that needs care on the part of the state in order to be independent. “
