Film

The main objectives of film policy include promoting valuable Swedish film production, distribution and screening of film throughout the country, regional and local film culture particularly for children and young people, preserving and facilitating access to the film heritage as well as international exchange and cooperation in the field of film. Another important objective is to improve conditions for female film-makers. Film policy support and measures are distributed and administered by the Swedish Film Institute. Support to Swedish film production and certain forms of support for distribution and screening are financed through the film agreement between the state, the film industry and several television companies. Support to other measures, mainly for film culture, is financed by the Government outside the film agreement.

The film agreement

The current film agreement came into force on 1 January 2006 and applies up to and including 31 December 2010. Through increased Government funding, in comparison with the previous agreement this agreement means an increase in support to Swedish film production and distribution and screening of film throughout the country. The agreement has also introduced clear goals for increasing gender equality in Swedish film production. The Government's contribution to the film agreement amounted to SEK 175 million in 2006 and will increase in 2007 and 2008 by SEK 5 million per year to SEK 185 million as of 2008.

The film industry contributes 10 per cent of box office revenues, which in 2007 is expected to provide about SEK 110 million, while the television companies will contribute a total of SEK 51 million in 2007. Together with a separate contribution from the film producers, these contributions will total about SEK 343 million in 2007. In addition the television companies have undertaken in the agreement to use an approximate total guaranteed amount in 2007 of at least SEK 59 million for new Swedish film through co-financing, joint production and purchase of broadcasting rights. The contribution from the television companies and guaranteed amount are adjusted upwards by two per cent per year.

Measures for film culture

Measures in the area of film culture include support for regional resource centres for film and video, support for film in schools, support and measures to promote the distribution and screening of valuable film, archive activities and support for Swedish sub-titling and audio description in films and videos, as well as international activities. Besides these measures, which, like the film agreement support, are distributed and administered by the Swedish Film Institute, the Arts Grants Committee distributes support for the production of short films. The Government's contribution to film policy measures outside the film agreement amounted to an approximate total of SEK 115 million in 2006 and will increase in 2007 and 2008 by SEK 5 million per year to about SEK 125 million as of 2008.