by Federico Greco

Yvon Thiec – ARP delegate

“Co-production is a method of financing and producing films. I believe that we must extend that definition to include our common European or even international goals, in order to create an authentic mutual support network. My anxieties cover both the big picture, let’s call it the artistic point of view that is specific to cinema, as well as the more strictly political actions.”

Emidio Greco - Director

“As we wait for a joint European policy that will deal with the problem in a serious way, all we can do is try to deal with it individually. The only country that has dealt with this problem is France. In France, cinema has always been at the very centre of any audiovisual policies; French cultural politics do not change with each new government and indeed, last year French films occupied 41.7 per cent of the national market. The French film industry produces some 200 films per year, and the forecast for attendance in 2002 is likely to break thte 200-million barrier.
However, that does not mean that films produced by other European countries receive widespread distribution in France; quite rightly, France defends first and foremost its domestic industry, and it is no coincidence that they are Europe’s leading domestic film exporters.”

Angelo Barbagallo - Producer

“The problem is that almost all of Europe’s film industries are experiencing crises, the sole exception being France. The speech made by ARP delegate Yvon Thiec was precisely along these lines. Although the theme of this conference is the circulation of European films but the participants and the speeches they make tend to focus on getting an idea of what’s happening elsewhere. What emerged here is that the French situation is very different from that of any other country. Spain reported a slight increase on last year but nobody is making any headway. No one has managed to conquer either foreign or their own domestic markets. Thiec said that France has adopted a cultural policy with cinema at the hub. And it is precisely that policy that has given cinema the means, as well as the courage to invest.”