National Programme of the Development of Audio-visual Activities (2010-2014)
The main objective of the Programme is oriented to promotion of audio-visual activities by encouraging the performing, organization and financing of preparation, development, production, distribution and exhibition of Croatian, European and international audio-visual works. The Programme is prepared and implemented by the Croatian Audio-visual Centre (Hrvatski audiovizualni centar-HAVC), established by the Act of Audio-visual Activities in 2007.
The four main strategic goals of the adopted National Programme of the Development of Audio-visual Activities (2010-2014) are:
1.Sustaining and developing production, distribution, exhibition, electronic diffusion and promotion of audio-visual works;
2.Expanding film and audio-visual culture in general as well as through specific knowledge related to creative audio-visual work;
3.Preserving audio-visual heritage and improving the accessibility of culturally valuable national and international heritage;
4. Stimulating investments in the national film production, film industry and export of film-related services.
The main feature of the National Programme is determining the scope and method of promoting audio-visual activities as well as complementary and other activities, promoting audio-visual culture and production relevant for the development of Croatian culture, activities related to participation of Croatian authors and organizations in European Union programmes and other international agreements.
On the basis of the National Programme, the Croatian Audio-visual Council publishes annual calls for tenders for promoting audio-visual activities and production as well as other complimentary activities that are oriented to:
a) stimulating audio-visual activities and production (feature, documentary, animated and experimental films); and
b) stimulating complementary activities (including film preservation and archiving, film festivals and other audio-visual manifestation and activities, promotional programmes, international cooperation, research and critical evaluation of audio-visual activities,
publishing, training programmes and programmes of audio-visual associations and organizations).
The process of public calls for tenders, application conditions and criteria for the allocation of funds, the work of art consultants and the Arts Council, as well as the supervision of the earmarked spending of allocated funds are determined by the Regulations on the Procedure, Criteria and Schedule of Implementation of the National Programme.
The implementation of the first National Programme of Development of Audio-visual Activities sets the groundwork for future development of the audio-visual industry in Croatia. It sets four main pillars of development oriented towards increasing the domestic production, distribution and diversity of expressions, opening up towards international productions, investments and audiences, harnessing Croatian audio-visual heritage and developing domestic audience through media literacy programmes and developing audio-visual infrastructure.
HAVC is funded by the grant-in-aid from the Government, as well as from mandatory contributions from all those exploiting audio-visual works such as broadcasters, exhibitors, cable operators and telecoms. The body within the Centre, responsible for the allocation of subsidies is the Croatian Audio-visual Council, comprising representatives of stakeholders in the national audio-visual industry: professional associations, institutions, broadcasters and other audio-visual content providers who pay mandatory contributions.
In 2015 74.900.173,52 Kuna (€ 9.790.872,36) were allocated for programme activities supported by HAVC.
The main conclusions showed that out of four envisaged strategic goals, three of them were achieved, while one (Preserving the audio-visual heritage and improving accessibility of culturally valuable domestic and international heritage) was not achieved.
One of the challenges in the implementation of the measure proved to be the raising of funds for the realisation of the National Programme that depends on the portion of the total annual gross income generated through the performance of audio-visual activities of the Croatian Radio Television, television broadcasting companies at national and regional level, cable television providers, fixed and mobile telecommunications and internet service providers and individuals who are reproducing audio-visual works for public consumption.
Although there are a number of positive indicators (increase in audience for Croatian films, number of awards of films at international A festivals, increase in the number of co-operations achieved, participation of Croatian film makers at international training programmes etc.), there are still a lot of issues to be dealt with that are included in the new National Programme of Development of Audio-visual Activities (2017-2021).