FILM

Danish film policy has radically changed over the years. Up to the end of the fifties, Danish film was a thriving industry, requiring no public intervention. Conversely, until 1972, cinemas were obliged to pay a fee to the State to procure an operational licence – that is, authorisation to run a cinema. These licence fees did not make their way into the State coffers but went instead toward establishing a film fund designed to support the production of films of cultural value. The fund was set up in 1938. The National Film Board of Denmark was established in the same year with the objective of producing and distributing educational films. The Danish Film Museum was set up by private initiative in 1941 and has received public subsidies since 1950.

The tremendous inroads made by television throughout the fifties and sixties necessitated State initiatives to strengthen and restructure the film industry.

With the adoption of the 1972 Film Act, the old film fund was abolished and replaced by the State-administered Danish Film Institute. At the same time, the cinema licensing system was done away with and film now came within the province of the Finance Act (Budget).

Today, the Ministry of Culture is responsible for the overall administration of State institutions connected with the Danish film industry.

A new Film Act came into force in March 1997, which fused the formerly independent film agencies - the National Film Board of Denmark, the Danish Film Institute and the Danish Film Museum - into one agency now known as the Danish Film Institute. The Media Council for Children and Young People was also established at this juncture to replace the National Film Censorship Board, the agency responsible for censoring films and videos aimed at children and young people following the abolition of adult censorship in 1969.

INSTITUTIONS
The Danish Film Institute is responsible for promoting the art and culture of film in Denmark by granting financial support to film production and other initiatives. It supports the development of film as an art form and Danish film and cinema culture.

Support granted to feature films is two-pronged: (1) the Consultant Scheme, which supports the development and production of films based on an evaluation of the artistic merits of the individual project; and (2) the 60-40 scheme, which allows the Film Institute to grant subsidies of up to 60 per cent without the necessity of the foregoing consultancy. The Film Institute also supports short and documentary films that promote educational, artistic and cultural activities.

In addition to the above, the institute is charged with numerous other duties, such as ensuring the distribution and preservation of films and film material, promotional activities, and research within the field of film. Finally, the institute runs workshops designed to promote more experimental films and encourage the development of talent.

The institute also has numerous external functions, such as running cinemas, libraries, video libraries, and a bookshop and café, both of which are open to the public, at the film houses in Copenhagen and Århus. The Danish Film Institute is located at the Film House in Copenhagen.

The Media Council for Children and Young People is more broadly constituted and conferred with more external functions than its predecessor, the National Film Censorship Board. The council is composed of professionals with knowledge of children and young people and, therefore, has a solid basis for evaluating films in accordance with the official ratings system promulgated by law.

FINANCE
Total public spending on film in 2002 is budgeted at DKK 388.0 million, of which the State’s share is 376.8 million.

STRENGTHENING THE DANISH FILM INDUSTRY
As part of a multi-year plan designed to strengthen the Danish film industry, State funding of Danish film was substantially augmented in the 1999 Finance Act. Appropriations for Danish films have thus been increased by DKK 50 million in 1999 and DKK 100 million in 2000, while an additional DKK 150 million has been earmarked for 2001 and 2002, respectively. The Ministry of Culture is now preparing the goals and strategies for 2003-2006.

In 2001, 11,921,000 tickets were sold in Danish cinemas. In the same year, 24 feature films were in production and Danish feature films had an overall market share of 30% in Denmark.

ADDRESSES

The Danish Film Institute
(Det Danske Filminstitut)
Filmhuset
Gothersgade 55
1123 Copenhagen K
Tel. +45 33 74 35 00
www.dfi.dk

Media Council for Children and Young People
(Medierådet for Børn og Unge)
Filmhuset
Gothersgade 55
1123 Copenhagen K
Tel. +45 33 74 34 75
www.medieraadet.dk