08/06/2012 - "The cuts could mean the end of the industry," says the head of the umbrella association for Catalan audiovisual producers.

Producer and journalist Ramón Colom has been chosen as president of PROA, an umbrella association for Catalan audiovisual producers. Colom has held this role since October 2011 and, following a change in the association's rules, will now continue to hold it for the 2012-2014 period. Because of the high rate of Catalan productions in Spain (42% of all Spanish productions), PROA is one of the most important voices in the sector.

These are definitely not the quietest of times to be taking on such a role. This year, considerable cuts in public aid to the film and audiovisual sector have compounded already chronic problems linked to piracy and television. (The ICAA's Film Protection Fund, Spain's main subsidy, was slashed by 36%.)

"The cuts could mean the end of the industry," Colom explained by telephone. "Legal changes since 2004 are the result of approaches from the past. While other countries in Europe are encouraging co-production, in Spain we are penalised for it. We need to change this urgently to be able to compete and work."

To defend the Spain's film and audiovisual sector more effectively, PROA and FAPAE will join forces within the next two years: "We have signed a document to mark our return to FAPAE," he said. "We have a period of six months to smooth over a few differences and clarify a few economic and operational points. We feel like we are part of it. FAPAE has our full support in everything it does and, vice versa, we hope for its support on issues such as the fund for feature film productions in co-official languages."

Colom, who was director of Spanish television broadcaster TVE from 1990 to 1996, also produces and distributes audiovisual content, presents television programme Milennium, and lectures at the Ramon Llull University in Barcelona.

(Translated from Spanish)