21/06/2011

The number of Spanish films released abroad rose by 18% in 2010 compared to the previous year, reaching 222. However, box office takings fell sharply, as they dropped from €144m in 2009 to €90m in 2010. This is nothing unusual, considering that the Spanish film industry depends on a few big names both abroad and at home and 2009 saw the phenomenal success of Planet 51 [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which alone grossed €50m.

These figures were presented yesterday by Pedro Pérez (president of FAPAE, the Spanish Federation of Audiovisual Producers) at the working breakfast at the 2011 edition of Madrid de Cine – Spanish Film Screenings. It was also attended by Gonzalo Salazar-Simpson (head of film producers’ association AEC) and film director Fernando Trueba, who is the event’s patron.

Indeed it was Trueba who broached the most controversial subjects, such as the media’s lack of support for Spanish cinema (“I’ve always envied the patriotism of the French. If you read their film press, you’ll get the impression they make five masterpieces every month”) and the complicated relationship between private and state television companies and film production (“It makes me sad to see so many great producers turned into mere employees of TV companies”).

Some rather significant conclusions emerged from the figures, including the fact that Spanish films once again amassed more takings abroad (€90m) than at home (€80.27m); the European Union, particularly Italy and France, is Spanish cinema’s most loyal market (60.8% of the total); and the most successful releases are usually majority or entirely Spanish productions (73.6% of the total number of releases).

(Translated from Spanish)