Year book of motion pictures (1951)

LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS IN FOREIGN FILM MARKETS By NATHAN D. GOLDEN Director, Motion Picture-Photographic Products Division, National Production Authority, United States Department of Commerce 3^^URING THE YEARS immediately after the war, the major concern of United States fihn companies operating in the foreign market was that of obtaining foreign exchange with which to make remittances of their film earnings. However, in recent years, as the film industries of the major foreign producing countries have developed and expanded, there has been an emphasis placed on legislative activity designed to assist and protect the development of the national film industry. exchange regulations that Hmit foreign competition, dubbing restrictions, anci other measures that promote or aid the domestic motion picture Industry. The United States film industry throughout 1950 has continued its efforts to solve the problems confronting the foreign distribution of their films. In addition to the economic factors involved, the industry considers it of the utmost importance that United States films, presenting the American way of life and exemplifying the workings of a free democracy, should be kept on the motion picture screens of the world. Film agreements were negotiated with Argentina, Japan, and the United Kingdom during 1950, and throughout the year negotiations have been carried on by the United States film industry with Italy, Germany, France, Spain and other countries— attempting to equitably solve the problems involved in this trend toward aiding the home industry at the expense of the United States films. There follows a country by country resume of restrictive controls affecting the distribution of United States films throughotu the world: Actually both of these problems, transfer of foreign exchange and legislative restrictions, are closely related, but of the two the measures to protect the native film industries may have longer lasting effect on United States film distribution in foreign countries. This trend has a twofold effect on the distribution of United States films in foreign markets. Most protective measures tend to restrict the number of United States films that may be imported and exhibited and at the same time encourage production and exhibition of their own films offering more serious competition to United States films. Such legislation may take various forms, such as guaranteed playing time for nationally produced films, reduction in taxes when domestic films are shown, direct and indirect subsidy of the industry, import and foreign GOLDEN EUROPE ALBANIA — All motion picture theaters in Albania have l)een nationalized and the importation, distribution, and exhibition of films is entirely in the hands of the Albanian government which has shown no desire to Import any films except those of Soviet production. AUSTRIA — No quota or conting-ent measures are in effect in Austria which miffht reduce or prevent the distribution of United States motion pictures. Import licenses are required. Transfer of foreign exchang-e for motion pictures is prohibited except in occasional individual cases when limited transfers of foreign exchange may be obtained through the Austrian National Bank. An agree ment has been reached between the United States and Soviet element in Austria whereby exhibition ot tJnited States films in the Soviet Zone of Austria, hitherto prohibited, will be permitted. The agreement provides that the same number of United States films are to be shown in the Soviet Zone as Soviet films in the United States Zone. BELGIUM — Belgian authorities have placed virtually no restrictions on the importation of foreign films. There are no quota measures in effect, import licenses are not required, and there are no restrictions placed on the transfer of film earnings. BULGARIA — All theaters in Bulgaria are na 721