Wert presents his plans for cinema to Parliament

by Sergio Ríos Pérez

03/02/2012 - The new Spanish government's plans for cinema became a little clearer last Thursday when the minister of education, culture and sport, Juan Ignacio Wert, appeared before Parliament. Although he didn't go into great detail with no timeframe or figures, it is clear that there are two great priorities for its legislation: copyright and patronage..

After the so-called Sinde law (read more) was processed in record time by the previous government, the importance that Wert has given to the batte against piracy has come as no surprise. A little more complex is the so-called patronage law to encourage private investments in a cultural sector traditionally linked to public funds, as it is a completely new system.

In his own words, Wert inspires himself from the French model "that considers incentives of around 30% for companies." The minister added that "incentives will get even better for personal income tax and corporate tax, benifiting both people and companies."

This law could provoke dramatic changes in cinema, as the government's plans to create a "mixed financing model in which direct funding will progressively be complemented by a more dedicated tax incentives policy." The plan, born of an ever-increasing scarcity of funds for cinema production, has producers' blessings. No small feat in these times.

(Translated from Spanish)