Catalan cinema challenges –a debate

Barcelona (ACN).- Up to 96 movies have been produced in Catalonia, more than 7.500.000 viewers have attended and earnings have topped 47 million euros. These are the figures from the Catalan cinema industry in 2010, according to the latest report by the National Council for Culture and Arts (CoNCA). The data has lead many to describe 2010 as “the best year” to date for Catalan cinema. Experts argue that Catalan films were able to find a balance between different film genres and styles, created complicity with the audience and critics and were successful in many awards ceremonies: a prescription for success that nonetheless faces big challenges. These are, mainly, the hegemony enjoyed by American movies and a more demanding audience.

“Pa Negre”, “Herois”, “Bicicleta, cullera, poma”, “Buc”, “A tres metros sobre el cielo”, “Los ojos de Julia”, “Biutiful”, “Elisa K” o “La mosquitera”, are only some of the films that, because of the awards they won, their good reviews and their successful revenue have made 2010 a good year for Catalan cinema. The main concern for producers and directors is to achieve such a success annually in the future, and not occasionally. They aim to consolidate the Catalan cinema industry, considering it to be a important and beneficial cultural sector in the country. Experts agree that 2010 has seen a wide variety of films, with different genres and styles, from independent movies to commercial ones. Cinema critic Àlex Gorina said that Catalonia already had “good directors and films” before 2010, but this year they truly achieved the confidence of the audience. “Pa Negre” (‘Black bread’) triumphed at the Spanish Oscar awards, the Goya Awards. It was nominated in 14 categories and succeeded in scooping 9 of these titles including best direction and best movie. The movie, directed by Agustí Villaronga, has led the success of the Catalan cinema. According to critic Gorina, the film has all of the ingredients for success due to the approach of combining an independent style with the right appeal to attract a big audience. However, Gorina said it can be “problematic” to focus only in one film, especially if there is no “successor”. Film producer Edmon Roch said that the 2010 success has been due to the work of “many years”. He said the movies produced last year “had nothing to do one with the others despite all being made in Catalonia”. He celebrated the fact that such a great number of films reached the big screen at the same time. Independent producer Lluís Miñarro argued, however, that movies should not only be valued according to their earnings in the big screen. He said Catalonia has “a very important independent cinema” that should also be considered. Many experts consulted by CNA agreed that public subsidies to the industry are essential for its survival. Cinema professionals argue that most countries give financial support to the arts. In fact, producer Edmon Roch said that it has been only after the Catalan Government, its cultural offices and the Catalan National Television (TV3) gave financial support to the industry that good movies have started to be produced. The President of the Catalan Cinema Academy, Joel Joan, admits Catalan cinema “would disappear” if it had to compete in a free market without any institutional help. Joan said all European films are receiving financial support because that’s the only way to compete with the strong American industry.