Guy Daleiden, Director of the Film Fund Luxembourg, explained on Wednesday that the film production industry in Luxembourg will see some changes, following detailed consultation with producers, directors, technicians, etc., currently engaged in the film production industry here.
Currently, (state) funds are granted to subsidise film production in Luxembourg from Cultural Funds which helps sustain the film production industry in the Grandy Duchy. On the other side, organisations such as RTL are involved in diffusion and not in film production. He also explained that the film industry looks at both Europe as well as Asia, with production covering feature films, short films, documentaries and animation.
He stated that around 1,000 people are engaged in the film production industry in Luxembourg, including both those involved in film production and administrative tasks, with around 40 film directors actively engaged. They are based in Kehlen and Contern, amongst other locations.
Between 1990 and 2015, a total of €409.6 million has been invested in more than 600 audiovisual productions via their funding mechanisms, with a 50% return to the economy by way of cultural and social impacts. There are currently around 40 film production companies operating in the Grand Duchy plus 4 animation studios, 2 recording studios in Kehlen and Contern, 15 post-production companies and 15 specialised service companies. Over 50 professional actors are registered in Luxembourg too.
Internationally, Luxembourg is known internationally by way of co-productions with other countries, with the Nation Branding exercise also highlighting the role of film production in the Grand Duchy. Luxembourg has been active in attending many film festivals annually, from Cannes and Berlin to many others too.
Following this review, the first result is in the production process where the number of projects applying for financial support which means that the number of productions being funded is increasing, but the overall amount remains the same; this means that individual productions are receiving a reduction of 10-15% in overall funding. He stressed that it is imperative for the industry here to ensure quality is maintained, thus the reason for the review in the first place.
He announced that one approach is to establish a structural fund to attract private financing to Luxembourg film production, to complement state/public funding.
Co-productions will still be encouraged with other small countries, for example with Austria, Switzerland and Ireland, as well as with other countries such as France, Belgium and The Netherlands.
He also referred to the purchase by Kinepolis of Utopia SA, which has been very supportive of Luxembourg film production regarding screenings, etc., as nobody yet knows if this will lead to any changes affecting the release of Luxeembourgish film productions here.
On another aspect, education in the film production sector is very important, with the Film Fund Luxembourg to collaborate with the Lycée des Arts et Metiers in Limpertsberg to see how the current 2-year Audio-Viaual BTS could be expanded, primarily for the animation sector, to a 3-year course from which graduates could finish with a BA. This may need consultation with the University of Luxembourg, meaning such students could study here in Luxembourg instead of going abraod to study.
Also, they will forge greater relationships with other inductry sectors; they will also investigate if there are other possibilities for distribution through, for example, RTL, with more Luxembourg-language programmes to be supported, with a move towards series to be screened on television, both nationally and internationally.
The link between animation and gaming is also to be explored to establish if there are synergies that can be identifed and strengths leveraged.
Film Fund Luxembourg held a press conference on Wednesday morning at the Tramschapp in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg following two days of review of the film sector in Luxembourg, the second such review to be undertaken, coinciding with the Film Fund's 25th anniversary. Guy Daleiden, Director of the Film Fund Luxembourg, delivered the main presentation, with Paul Thiltges and Yann Tonar also providing specific input, particularly concerning upholding quality of Luxembourg film-making.
Photo by Geoff Thompson: Guy Daleiden (centre)
