PAFFP reports violations in the field of domestic cinema and proposes  to establish  State Cinema Committee

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.