Reflexions entorn de la política catalana de foment de l'oferta cinematogràfica en llengua catalana

Abstract

This article takes stock of legal and economic assessments that have been made of twenty years of policies of support for Catalan cinema (cultural policy) and for cinema in Catalan (language policy). A combined methodology is used to determine the real effects that public incentive policies have on movie offerings actually available to the public. The impact of subsidies on Catalan movie production is practically non-existent. There is no substantial difference between the movies produced in 1982 and in 2002, in spite of the subsidies paid out. The industry has a production ceiling, which means that an increase in the amounts of the subsidies does not have a real repercussion on the number of films made. The average for the period studied was 17.5 films per year. In addition, the data suggest that the sector is weak, since it is quick to betray the effects of cuts in subsidies aimed at supporting Catalan moviemaking. On the other hand, consumer choice comes about through the dubbing of films in Catalan. In this regard, the support for Catalan entails the reinforcement of public subsidies for dubbing, although success in this policy sector could be in conflict with the support for the industrial fabric of Catalan moviemaking. Unfortunately, the policy of support for Catalan moviemaking and the Catalan dubbing policy depend on the political cycle, through elections, although the influence of such policies varies according to the election. In election years there is a considerable increase in budget allocations for these items, although such increased attention does not manifest itself in increased industrial performance. In view of the repeal of Decree 237/1998, the only formula available for guaranteeing the presence of Catalan in the movies involves public subsidies, which are currently substantially below the amounts invested in support of the Catalan moviemaking industry. In this regard, nothing in European law prevents the regulation of a complete system of aid for Catalan-dubbed movie offerings that would be more ambitious than the current one. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, it is up to the Autonomous Government of Catalonia (the Generalitat) to define what is to be understood by the term «cultural product» and the degree to which the expenditure should be territorialized.