Lithuania 2011 Country Profile Back To Your Arms by Kristijonas Vildžiūnas VILNIUS: Lithuania‘s recent struggles for the survival of its film industry
appear to be ending at last. Lithuania continues to produce a low number of
films. In 2010 there were four feature films released, and in 2011 only one
Lithuanian film was released.
Lithuanian filmmakers have faced a major obstacle,
with government funding cut from 2 million Euros in 2008 to just over 1mln Euros in year 2009, 2010 and in 2011 (4.3
millions. Litas). Yet, 2011brought
good news and results. Lithuania plans to introduce a tax incentive programme
within a year to attract productions to the country. Hopefully, the Lithuanian parliament
will follow suit and back NPA's plea for a 20% tax rebate program (modelled on
the successful Hungarian system) as early as 2013. In another step forward, it is possible that as early as by the end of 2011, the long awaited film law will establish a national film center and provide guaranteed financial support for the domestic film industry. In 2011for the first time, a Lithuanian film company, Uljanos Kim studija, received partial support from MEDIA through the film package sponsorship scheme. Three Lithuanian films -- the feature Trys draugai ir kiti, by Kristijonas Vildžiūnas, the debut feature Odisėja. R. ir J. by Arūnas Matelis and the full length documentary Po ąžuolo šaknimis, by Audrius Stonys -- were awarded 363,000 Litas. Outstanding director and European Film Academy (EFA) member Arūnas Matelis was awarded with 78,000 litas for the develpment of the 3D documentary Gladiatoriai. Kita planeta.
FNE at DISCOP Budapest 2011: LithuaniaVILNIUS: Lithuanian television survived the onslaught of foreign programming beginning in the 1990‘s and is pulling out of the financial crisis of 2009. The result is a return to domestic production, with local acclaim and even international sales, and a new increase in advertising prices (by some 15%) that will allow commercial channels to become more competitive. Lithuania has three national broadcasters: public broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT, www.lrt.lt), which operates two national television and three radio channels; foreign-owned commercial channel TV3 (www.tv3.lt ) owned by Modern Times Group (www.mtg.se); and commercial channel LNK (www.lnk.lt) also known as Laisvas ir Nepriklausomas Kanalas ("Free and Independent Channel") owned by MG Baltic Group (www.mgbaltic.lt). LNK channel competes with TV3 for the market leader position. A fourth broadcaster, commercial channel BTV (www.btv.lt/), is owned by Achemos Group (www.achemosgrupe.lt). The financial crisis of 2009 and the drop in advertising revenues led to the exit of the popular local language youth channel MTV Networks Baltic, which was replaced by MTV Europe. Domestic series, which were largely absent from Lithuanian television after an influx of foreign capital and foreign programming in the 1990's, have had a revival in recent years. LNT now devotes 35% of its air time to original programmes. In the summer of 2009, LNK introduced a dating show Next (Kitas). It broadcasts the country's most popular music show, Star Duets ( Žvaigždžių duetai); two new domestic series: City of Feelings (Jausmų miestas) and Stolen Happiness (Pavogta laimė); and a serial
Lithuania to Open Vilnius Film OfficeThe mayor of Vilnius, Artūras Zuokas, met with the head of the Independent Producers Association (NPA) Rasa Miškinytė, the NPA and the representatives of the Lithuanian film industry to discus the possibilities of implementing incentives that would revive film production in the capital. The film industry in Vilnius is currently dwindling. The participants agreed to establish a Vilnius Film Office, consisting of representatives of the film industry and the city. This office will be based on the best of the European models, formulating a film industry incentives program and supervising the development of infrastructure required by the Lithuanian and foreign films shooting in Vilnius. Since approving a film support package in the recent years, the neighboring Latvian capital Riga has become an active player in the film industry, attracting new film funds. Meanwhile, the film industry in Vilnius is now attracting only one quarter the money it brought into the country in 2006-2007, with 2010 spend of 9 million Litas, compared to 36 million Litas in 2010.
Lithuanian Producers Promote Film Tax IncentiveVILNIUS: The Lithuanian Producers Association is planning to discuss a tax incentives scheme for the film industry with government representatives, according to local reports. The Baltic Times said the scheme under consideration is based on the Hungarian tax incentives programme launched in 2004. Lithuania and its Soviet era studio has been a draw to foreign productions due to low costs, but the privatization of the old state studio (now for the most part demolished), aided by developing film service industries and tax incentives in other parts of CEE, have hampered the country's ability to attract productions.
Lithuania‘s Box Office National HitsVILNIUS: Emilis Velyvis' crime comedy Zero 2 (http://www.zero2.lt) about mafia wars and family dramas has become the most profitable Lithuanian movie at the national box office since 1993. Zero 2, distributed by Meed Films (www.meedfilms.com), earned 934,600 Litas with 71,000 admissions since its national premiere on 20 January 2010. Three more Lithuanian films were released in 2010, with respectable results. Farewell (Atsisveikinimas) directed and prodced by Tomas Donela and Donelos Studija (www.donelos-studija.com) was released in April 2010. The story is of a man who comes ashore for one last time to see everyone he loves and cares for, drew 2,847admissions and box office of 36,800 Litas.
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