ArmInfo. Panarmenian Federation of Film Producers (PAFFP) stands for the establishment of the National Agency for Cinematography or State Cinema Committee. This is stated in the official statement of the PAFFP.
Members of the Federation appealed with a corresponding appeal to the government and the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, noting the urgent need for radical reforms in the field of public administration of cinema. In particular, the Federation proposes to dissolve all structures operating in the field of cinema management in Armenia.
The initiative of the PAFFP examining the situation in the field of Armenian cinema from 2016 to 2018, confirms that over the past three years 2.472 billion drams were allocated from the state budget to the Armenian film industry. Direct state assistance was provided to state non-commercial organizations, NGOs, funds. Three organizations involved in the production of films received 1.3 billion drams. During this time, 101 films were produced, including 69 fiction and documentary, 20 debut and 12 animation, the source noted. According to the report, the overwhelming majority of films did not reach the viewer either in the domestic market or in the international roll-out. Moreover, the films were not included in the program of major international film festivals, did not receive high awards, did not get into the center of attention of the press, theorists, critics, journalists. The state bodies of cinema did not publish full-fledged information about film rentals, participation and awards received by Armenian films at film festivals having the certificate of the International Federation of Film Producers' Associations.
Representatives of the Federation state that in the same period, in Armenia cases were recorded when film projects were banned. At the same time, it is noted that the shadow control in the field of cinema already carries a high level of risk, and the level of legality in the process of financing films is at an unacceptably low level. In particular, the statement reads that in 2018, the National Film Center SNCO acting today adopted temporary regulations, which were used as a mechanism to refuse to implement unwanted film projects. In the same year, a new regulation was adopted, in which there are provisions for the intervention of government officials in the adoption of a film project. <In the field of cinema management there is a legal mess. There is no law on cinema, moreover, the choice of companies that will be provided with state direct assistance is conducted arbitrarily, and domestic producers are deprived of the privileges used in international practice, "the statement reads. In this regard, the Federation demands the immediate dismissal of the acting director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia and the exclusion of the adoption of the regular time limit for SNCO. PAFFP members insist on meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to discuss the concept of the development of Armenian cinema.