26/09/2012 - Supporting film production with €4.3 million between 2008-2012, the West Danish Film Fund generated €16.6 million turnover in local trade

"We have got figures on it, and we can see it: film and media production is not only art and good stories - it is also excellent business," said Carsten Holst, head of the West Danish Film Fund, when publishing a new report from Manto Analysis about the 2008-2012 operation of the Danish regional film centre in Aarhus.

The conclusion is that, in supporting film production with €4.3 million, the centre generated €16.6 million turnover in local trade, resulting in 149 full-time jobs in Central and Northern Jutland. "It clearly shows that culture is not necessarily a one-way cash flow," added Christian Stadil, who is a member of the centre's advisory board.

The West Danish Film Fund has chipped in for such film productions as Danish director Nikolaj Arcel's A Royal Affair [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
interview: Nikolaj Arcel
film profile] and Lars von Trier's upcoming Nymphomaniac, as well as numerous television series. The report is based on the actual operation and a questionnaire survey among film and media companies in the region.

Production companies, haulage contractors, artisans and hotels are among the trades to have benefited from the fund's activities, aimed at developing the film and media industries in Western Denmark and funded by the municipalities in Aarhus, Vejle, Viborg, Hjørring, Frederikshavn and Holstebro.

Most of the €900,000 annual support of production companies finds its way to the tourism and service industries (24%) - transportation, accomodation, food - or craft enterprises (20%) - film equipment, locations, sets and costumes: every €1 spent has generated a turnover of €3.9 in regional business.