31/10/2011

While heading for a record year hosting 22 local and international productions, Swedish regional film centre, Film i Väst, has established its position as a profit-monger in the industry: the €7.7 million invested in film projects during 2010 has returned €25.6m to the region, adding the promotional value of its efforts, eg to tourism.

A new independent report from Sweden’s Inno Group, commissioned by the Västra Göteland region, points out that the Trollhättan enterprise is not only financially rewarding, but also artistically is one of the most successful film funds in Europe.

”In the report our activities are compared to similar production centres in Paris, Rome and Berlin, and no matter how we calculate our results are equal to theirs,” said Film i Väst Managing Director Tomas Eskilsson, who moved the institution from Allingsås to Trollhättan in 1997.

Last year 20 of the feature-film productions co-financed by Film i Väst were selected for 27 slots at the producer organisation FIAPF’s 14 A-festivals (with international competitions) – 10% more than any other year. They collected eight prizes, adding an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.

”Besides a business operation we are a cultural institution, and if successful it will support our position in the international market,” Eskilsson concluded. ”In 2010 more than two-thirds of the applications for collaboration with Film i Väst came from abroad – which again help us to deliver satisfying accounts.”

Also Ystad-based film centre, Film i Skåne, which has been involved in the Wallander film and TV series and most recently the Swedish-Danish TV project The Bridge, is in the black: the €16 million invested in productions between 2001-2010 has returned €70 million to the region, according to Managing Director Ralf Ivarsson.