Nick Cunningham reports.
The Netherlands Association of Dutch Film Distributors (NVF) and the Netherlands Association of Cinema Owners (NVB) have agreed to up their annual investment in the Dutch industry to a cool €2.5 million, roughly two thirds of which will be earmarked specifically for film production. This extra investment, agreed with Dutch Education, Culture and Science Minister Ronald Plasterk on 11 January and to be administered by the newly-established Abraham Tuschinski Fund Foundation (ATF), marks an approximate 150% increase on previous investment within the local industry. The agreement is backdated to 1 January 2009 and acknowledges the lower 6% rate of VAT applicable to Dutch cinema tickets, introduced to stimulate attendances.
The ATF has allocated €675,000 from 2009 coffers to the Netherlands Film Fund for exhibition and distribution support, with specific emphasis placed on the distribution of smaller artistic films, NVF chairman Wilco Wolfers told the Daily Tiger. A further €500,000 has been earmarked for the fledgling eye institute. The 2009 production investment pot, valued at €1,325,000, will reward Dutch producers whose films perform with distinction at the local box office.
“If picture X reaches a certain amount of admissions, it will receive a bonus of Y, which must be invested in the producer's next film”, commented Wolfers. “We don't decide if it will be used for script development or whatever, but the principle is to create a perpetual motion of success. The idea is that successful producers will continue to produce successful films. With this additional money, I represent a huge market share and a growing market for local films. Our aim is to increase that, but not through supporting films from any one genre. We only look at admissions, and the important thing is that this should lead to more admissions for local films in Holland.”