Independent Filmmakers Protest Complete Cut of Regional Film Budgets
"Local Film Ecosystem Could Collapse in an Instant," Voices in Unison
The National Independent Film Association and independent cinemas have requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to restore the budget that was completely cut for regional film revitalization.
On the 12th, they issued a statement revealing that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism excluded the 'Regional Film Culture Revitalization Support Project (800 million KRW)' and the 'Regional Film Planning, Development, and Production Support Project (400 million KRW)' from next year's Korea Film Council budget. They demanded the withdrawal of the decision to cut the entire budget, stating that there is no basis considering the regional film ecosystem and that the decision destroys the regional film ecosystem.
The regional film budget was allocated at about 0.2% of the total Korea Film Council budget after the Framework Act on Culture was enacted in 2013 and related provisions were added to the Act on Promotion of Film and Video in 2016. Full-scale support began in 2018. The former project led to nurturing and discovering regional filmmakers, enabling local residents to enjoy film culture, and distributing regional films. The latter served as the only support pillar for regional film production.
These organizations argued, "While the project abolition may be a simple matter for the government, it causes regional filmmakers to lose their dreams and instantly collapses the regional film ecosystem that has been painstakingly built." They earnestly appealed, "We sincerely request the cessation of stopping the time of people who shared films together within the regional film ecosystem."
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The statement was signed by regional independent film associations from Gangwon, Gwangju, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Daejeon, Busan, Incheon, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and numerous cooperatives and organizations such as Gangneung Cinematheque, Indie House, Gwangju Independent Film Festival, Media Center Naeil, Busan Independent Film Festival, and Jeju Cinepia.
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