| MUMBAI:
European Union film production figures show a steady upward trend.
On the basis
of currently available data, the European Audiovisual Observatory estimates that
around 862 feature films were produced in the 25 member states of the European
Union in 2006, 47 films more than in 2005.
This
represents a 5.8 per cent increase on the total for the previous year.
926
million cinema tickets were sold in the European Union in 2006, a 3.6 per cent
increase in relation to 2005 European films earned a 28 per cent share of admissions,
compared to 25 per cent in 2005 Countries
contributing to overall growth included Germany, Italy and Spain. With 174 new
features released during the year, Germany registered the highest production level
on record. Entirely national fiction and documentary features were the principle
areas of growth, with co-production numbers remaining stable in relation to 2005.
Factors contributing to the increase included a higher than usual number of very
low budget features obtaining theatrical release. After
a lean period in 2005, Italian film production showed renewed vitality in 2006.
A total of 117 films were produced, a figure identical to that of 2003, though
inferior to the record level of 138 films registered in 2004. Upward momentum
was also evident in Spain, where a total of 150 films, the highest level of the
last twenty-five years, were produced. Again
an increase in the number of entirely national films was the principle growth
factor. Increased public funding as well as higher levels of investment in production
by broadcasters underpinned the upswing. Other countries showing increased production
activity in 2006 included Austria (+10 films) and Hungary (+10 films) while provisional
figures for Poland also indicate a rise in the number of new national films completed.
In the United Kingdom the number of films produced remained stable in relation
to 2005. Two
notable exceptions to the trend were Denmark (-12 films) and France (-23 films).
Both countries had registered exceptionally high production volume in 2005 and
the decrease in 2006 represents a return to more normal levels of activity. In
line with the decrease in the number of films produced, the value of investment
in French production in 2006 fell by 7.4% to EUR 865 million. There was a significant
drop in the number of very low budget (less than EUR 1 million) and mid-range
(EUR 2 to 7 million) films made. The
overall value of production activity in the UK rose sharply to 842.4 million pounds
reversing the dip observed in 2005 ( 577 million poinds). The rise was principally
accounted for by the increased value of incoming productions, contributing GBP
569.6 million to the overall total (GBP 308.7 million in 2005). Signifying
a return to the cinemas in 2006, total admissions in the European Union reached
926 million, a 3.6 per cent rise from the lacklustre 2005 total of 894 million.
The admissions lost between 2004 and 2005 were not, however, entirely recovered
in 2006. The result is still around 80 million admissions short of the high-points
registered in 2002 and 2004. | 
