15/10/2009

Norwegian Minister of Culture Trond Giske announced earlier this week that the film budget for 2010 will reach NOK625m (€75.3m), up NOK50m (€6m) from 2009.

More than half of the total amount – NOK 368m (€44.3m) – will be earmarked for the production of audiovisual works. The increase in public funding, the biggest ever, will also go towards regional film centres that will receive a total budget of NOK42.3m (€5m) for 2010, up NOK5m (€602,000) from 2009. Another NOK 3m (€361,000) will be invested in computer games.

Whereas Sweden is struggling with restricted state support for cinema, Norway has put film at the heart of its cultural policy over the last few years, with the overall objective of becoming a leader in film within the Nordic region.

In 2005, Giske and his advisors started to reflect on how to copy Denmark in its international success and high domestic market share for film. Since then, the Norwegian government has given itself the means to reach its goals and has pumped nearly NOK200 million (€24m) into the local film industry.

The four main objectives outlined in the government’s 2006 White Paper on Film are gradually being met. These are for Norwegian films to have a 25% share of the local market (it was 23% in 2008), international recognition at world festivals, more diversity in film, and for film culture to be accessible throughout Norway.