Europe: Film production is up but audiences fall
A total of 921 feature films were produced in the 27 member states of the European Union in 2007, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory after a provisional data collection. Indians must be laughing at these numbers as India produces about 1000 films a year. But how many of theses Indian films could compete at international levels, would contest Europeans.
There are two highlights of this EU report; the production of films is slightly up, but the number of audiences in cinema halls is falling down. In 2007, cinema attendance in the European Union was 919 million tickets sold whereas, in 2006, it was 932 million admissions.
This data includes for the first time production figures from the two new EU member states, Bulgaria and Romania, and historic figures have been adjusted to reflect this change. Based on these adjusted figures, European production levels for entirely national and majority co-productions have increased by 1.1% year-on-year and by an annual average of 5.1% since 2003 (754 feature films).
More films are produced
Overall growth was primarily due to a rise in the number of entirely national productions, increasing from 543 in 2003 to 711 in 2007 and 10 films up on 2006. International co-productions remained stable year-on-year, with a total of 210 films majority co-produced by a European Union member country in 2007.
Increased production activity in France, Spain and Italy contributed significantly to overall growth. With a total of 133 entirely national films (+6) and 52 majority co-productions (+15), France registered the second highest production level of the past five years, up 21 films from the previous year.
Spain on top
Spanish production levels hit a record high, increasing 9% to 115 entirely national films (+6) and 30 majority co-productions (+6). Continuing its upward trend Italy counted a total of 109 ‘national’ films split into 93 national (+3) and 16 majority co-productions (+4). In contrast, production figures declined strongly in Hungary and Sweden, falling by -18 and -16 respectively. However in both cases this represents a return to more normal levels against a background of exceptional production activity in 2006.
European cinema admissions fall in 2007
The European Audiovisual Observatory now estimates 2007 cinema attendance in the European Union at 919 million tickets sold. This figure takes into account revised estimates from Spain and Italy and represents a 1.3% decrease from the 932 million admissions registered in 2006.
UK cinema attendance is up but...
Results differed significantly across the various territories. Among the five major markets the United Kingdom and Italy stood out. According to estimates from Centro Studi ed Analisi di Cinecittà Holding, Italian cinema experienced a phenomenal year, growing 13% to a record 120 million admissions. In the United Kingdom cinema attendance rose by 3.7% to 162 million tickets sold. Improving on early estimates the Spanish market registered a decline of -3.9%, while admissions fell by -5.9% and -8.2% in France and Germany respectively.
While cinema markets in Western Europe – with the exceptions noted above – were generally facing regressive attendance figures, audience interest was growing in more recent EU member states. This trend was demonstrated by the Czech Republic, where cinema attendance increased by 11.4%, largely thanks to strong local films, and Lithuania (+34%).
