The government has approved a new strategic plan for the development of cinema and audiovisual sphere for 2024-2028

The next strategic plan for cinema and audiovisual development (2024-2028) includes a review of financial support programs and a focus on audience access to Portuguese productions, the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (ICA) said.

The document, approved by the Minister of Culture and published on Monday by the ICA, sets several goals for the sector until 2028, taking into account that the previous strategic plan covered the years 2014-2018 and that during this period the film law was revised and the Tourism and Film Support Fund was created with a system of tax incentives, the validity of which will be extended until 2026.

Among the specific measures of this new strategic plan is the creation of a working group that is expected to conduct research and proposals to review financial assistance programs by the end of this year and develop plans to expand the audience and training of specialists in the industry.

The institute also proposes the creation of thematic groups with the participation of the Specialized Section of Cinema and Audiovisual Media (SECA) of the National Council of Culture to prepare studies and proposals.

“By 2028, this plan was intended to promote greater intimacy between Portuguese cinema and audiovisual media and citizens, correcting regional asymmetries in access to works,” the ICA states.

For the ICA, “expanding and developing audiences is a complex and long-term challenge”, which is why it wants to produce a Better Access, More Audiences Plan (MAMP) by the end of this year. , taking into account, for example, the asymmetry of the territory and the new reality of exhibition beyond cinemas and “traditional” television services.

The institute says it is prepared to submit a proposal that uses the cultural patronage regime or other tax incentives to encourage the opening or refurbishment of cinemas, “especially in those areas of the country that lack most a regular and diversified cinematic offer, with a strong presence of national productions.”

With regard to financial support competitions, which significantly occupy the activities of the ICA, it is proposed to submit a proposal for revision by the end of this year.

The ICA also warns of “limited human resources” that are “under severe pressure” and the availability or lack of data in certain areas, such as employment, turnover of manufacturing subsectors or financial impacts. cinema and audiovisual activities.

The ICA therefore intends to develop the Statistics, Research and Analysis stream over the coming months to fill information gaps and attract researchers and universities in the future.

The Strategic Plan 2024-2028 was approved on the 19th by outgoing Minister of Culture Pedro Adau e Silva after it was presented to sector representatives at the Specialized Section of Cinema and Audiovisual Media.

In preparing this plan, the government commissioned two studies: one was requested in 2020 from the English consultancy Olsberg SPI to identify future areas of intervention; the other was requested in 2021 from the Dinamia’Cet Training Center at ISCTE to assess compliance with the 2014-2018 strategic plan.

The findings of both were only made public in June 2023 through the ICA. The Dinamia’Cet study shows that the ICA met the overall objectives of the 2014-2018 plan, but imbalances, asymmetries and differences in the sector were identified. The most problematic issues concern the distribution and exhibition of Portuguese cinema.

“Even though we receive support from the ICA, there are great difficulties in distributing non-commercial Portuguese films. In most cases, only a few screenings are held in Lisbon or Porto,” the study says. Another study, carried out by the English company Olsberg SPI, proposed a “holistic national strategy” for the next strategic plan, aimed at overcoming “structural deficiencies” in the Portuguese panorama, namely the “surprisingly low” market share of Portuguese cinema, high dependence on ICA funding and difficulties with access to private financing.

In his diagnosis, the English consultant noted that “distribution and screenings are uneven across the country, which further complicates the development of relations between viewers and national cinema.”

Among the recommendations left by Olsberg, SPI suggested strengthening the field of education in the field of Portuguese cinema, as well as supporting the writing and development of arguments for both film and television.