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SPEECH BY THE HON. DR. GEORGE HYZLER, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, DURING THE INAUGURATION OF THE MEDEA 2001 MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION SEMINAR
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27/11/2001
27/11/2001
| Mr Chairman | Distinguished Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen; |
| It gives me great pleasure to be with you this | morning to inaugurate this week long working seminar organised by MEDEA and the Malta Film Commission. It is remarkable to see a good number of producers from various countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region to be gathered here to discuss and learn how to promote identities, values and lifestyles, packaged in audio-visual productions. |
| Audio-visual products are unique that they impress | the mind, and in their own way influence change. They also have extensive financial requirements that make them important from an economic standpoint. The Euro-Mediterranean area offers a rich array of view-points. This is what makes it an extraordinary shared space, particularly in economic, artistic and cultural terms. Audio-visuals have undoubtedly a fundamental role to play in the reciprocal recognition and understanding of cultures as a source of mutual enrichment. |
| Today, the Euro-Mediterranean audio-visual | partnership is one of the most advanced sectors in the Barcelona Process. Through the existing co-operation between European and North African countries, we are witnessing the adoption of a framework that would facilitate further cross-border production and circulation of programmes and audio-visual works, while preserving the general common interest. Preparing professionals from now to adhere to this reality is essential. Many agree that training should continue to be a priority within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. |
| The current initiatives undertaken by Euro-Med | Audio-visuals are encouraging, however there is more room for specialised projects especially in the field of marketing and international sales of audio-visual products. |
| The programme you will be following during this week | is intended specifically to help you penetrate new markets and sell your products to audiences around Europe and the world. I invite you to participate as much as possible in these sessions and express the problems you encounter in your projects. I am sure that all the experts brought here by MEDEA and the Malta Film Commission are ready to do their utmost to help you find the appropriate solutions. |
| We are working in a context were North-American | productions still account for a substantial proportion of the European Audio-visual Market. It is clear, however, that although successful, these productions can never replace or substitute our work. Our traditions and origins, our identity and therefore our histories, constitute an ethos and a sensitivity which are very much our own. Countries should continue this shared effort to promote their national productions abroad and narrow the gap between European and American productions in our own market. |
| Malta is itself rich in history and unique in its | identity – such heritage could be promoted world-wide through the making of audio-visual content. This can also give a substantial economic return. At present we still do not have a cinematographic industry. What we do have is a film-servicing industry, which has been in operation since the early 1950s. This industry is led by our main film facilities –the water tanks – however, film production companies choose Malta as a location and the launch of the Malta Film Commission earlier last year was intended to promote the country as a base for the film industry and to offer its services without charge to local and foreign producers. Since its inception, back in January 2000, the Malta Film Commission has assisted thirty-five productions, which have spent here an estimated $20 million. |
| In order to attract more foreign producers on the | island, Government has, over the past months, also extended VAT refunds to any production shooting in Malta. Shortly, we shall be publishing a set of fiscal and financial incentives, which are being finalised. |
| These incentives will provide tax credits to foreign | producers shooting on our islands as well as tax breaks to those investing in the necessary infrastructure and equipment used by the film and television industry. These incentives will be fully in line with the European Union’s policy on State Aid to the Film Industry as communicated by the Commission earlier last month. |
| Following an internal report commissioned last year | by the Malta Film Commission we undertook the task of amending various aspects of our legislation in order to facilitate the work of film producers. Later next year the Malta Film Commission will publish a set of guidelines for those involved in the industry with the procedures they should follow in order to get their job done with the least inconvenience possible. These codes of practices would cover various areas such as environment, customs, work permits, set buildings, employment of minors and other areas. |
| Malta is now a party to the European Convention on | Cinematographic Co-productions. This should allow foreign producers to co-produce with locals without losing any of the incentives offered in their country of origin. It will also serve locals to start looking for European partners to produce work intended for international distribution. |
| During the coming year we shall be assessing in | detail the benefits Malta were to obtain if we had to join the MEDIA Plus programme. At present we are awaiting the green light from the European Commission to start negotiations on our participation. Government believes that both MEDIA Plus and EURIMAGES are useful platforms that can help us accommodate a bigger industry. This government’s ultimate aim is to see an increase in the number of productions shot in Malta every year, improvements in our current audio-visual infrastructure and more local productions distributed and sold abroad. |
| The audio-visual landscape is in a period of profound | change. The rise of new technologies brings with it big challenges. The importance of the sector remains vital and central to our cultural identities and our democratic and social values. This government is committed to give the necessary support to foster audio-visual production to the benefit of our economy. I am confident that our natural and human resources have the potential to succeed further, not only to service foreign productions, but also to create more local content worthy of international distribution. |
| Once again I would like to welcome the participating | beneficiaries and wish them a productive meeting. I would also like to thank MEDEA for having allowed us the opportunity to co-host this seminar which, I am sure, will be of benefit to all concerned. |
Thank you.
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