The film daily year book of motion pictures (1951)

FRENCH MOROCCO — Import permiU are required for all groods, including films, arriving' from all couiUries except France. Since almost all U. S. film companies have their distribution offices in Paris, films usually enter without formalities. The transfer of foreign exchange is subject to approval of the Protectorate Government, which has not been inclined to make dollars available for film revenues. In actual practice, U. S. film companies send their franc profits to their head offices in Paris. FRENCH WEST AFRICA — Exchange authorities in French West Africa are not allotting dollars for the importation of motion pictures. Practically all films are imported from France and distributors are forced to handle their revenues in francs. GOLD COAST— An import permit must be secured before goods can be imported into the Gold Coast and imports from the United States are allowed only if the item is essential and cannot be secured from the sterling area. All films, including those originating in the United States, are imported from the United Kingdom or from Nigeria. LIBERI.A — Import permits are not required ajid there are no restrictions on the transfer of foreign exchange. No 35mm. films are exhibited in Liberia, only 16mm. films being shown in the three theaters in operation. There is one 35mm. theater in Sierra Leone whicli imports all of its films through the United Kingdom. M.4DAGASCAR — Import licenses are required for motion pictures imported from countries other than France. Because of the dollar shortage and exchange restrictions, films are imported from France and are paid for in francs. This does not mean that all fi'ms are of French production, about 60 per cent of the films received are of United States origin, but all films are dubbed in the French language in Prance before being' imported. Regulations require that one-third of the pictures shown must be French films. MOZAMBIQUB> — Import permits are required, but film exhibitors have not had any difficulty obtaining films since most South African distributors have found it possible to accept payment for their rental fees in South African pounds. In those few cases where dollar payments were required, the exchange has been made available. NIGERIA — The Government of Nigeria has instituted the allotment of semi-annual grants of $30,000 for the purchase of United States motion pictures. Prior to August 1949, all films shown in British West Africa were purchased or leased from agents in the United Kingdom for which sterling was paid. The Exchange Control Board decided to reverse its previous policy because of the inadequate supply of films from the sterling area. Import permits are required. TANGIER AND SPANISH MOROCCO — ^Import permits are not required. Tangier is a free money market and foreign exchange is available, though expensive. Most Tangier exhibitors pay film rental in either Moroccan francs or Spanish pesetas. In Spanish Morocco exhibitors customarily show all Spanish produced films, although there is no requirement to do so. Spanish Moroccan exhibitors obtain their films from Spain and foreign exchange is made available only through Madrid. TUNISIA — Import permits are required for all foreign films imported directly. All United States films shown in Tunisia are imported either from France or Algiers and do not require import permits. Each theater in Tunisia must exhibit at least 12 French films a year; moreover, each U. S. producer is limited to the showing of 12 films each year. Foreign films not dubbed must have French subtitles and such films, of whatever national origin, are restricted to two theater showings or runs in all Tunisia. Permission for the transfer of profits of foreign film companies has been granted only from time to time on a limited basis. UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA — In November 1948 the South African Government announced new exchange and import controls which substantially curtailed imports from the United States and other non-sterling countries. Under this scheme importers of United States motion pictures were permitted to remit in dollars only 50 per cent of the total amount they remitted to the United States companies in the calendar year 1947. This exchange control scheme was replaced by a comprehensive import licensing system effective July 1. 1949. governing all imports from all countries including sterling countries. United States film companies are still sending films to South Africa and the funds over and above the amounts they may remit are being held in South Africa, SOUTH PACIFIC, ASIA, AND THE EAST AUSTRALIA • — Perhaps the most serious restriction imposed on the distribution of United States films is that covering remittances to the United States of royalties earned in Australia. Since the beginning of 1948 payments of royalties have been restricted to 60 per cent of earnings returned in the base year 1946. Remittances on the basis are estimated at about ?3,500.000. Import permits are required but there are no restrictions on the number of pictures to be imported. In the states of New South Wales and Victoria there are quota laws, determined yearly, which govern the percentage of Australian and British films to be shown. In New South Wales distributors are required to distribute a number of Australian films equal to three per cent of the total number of films distributed, and exhibitors are required to exhibit 2.5 per cent Australian films and 15 per cent British films. In Victoria the law provides a quota for Australian films which is the same as that in New South Wales but does not require the showing of British films. When it is not economically feasible to maintain this quota the restriction is waived and in practice the quotas are seldom adhered to. BURMA — There are no quota or contingent measures which might restrict or prevent the distribution of United States films in Burma. Import licenses are required but are generally issued without much difficulty. The principal restrictions are the monetary regulations and the scarcity of dollar and other foreign exchange. In principle, no importation of any article is permitted unless foreign exchange for the payment is available. While little restriction is imposed on the issuance of import licenses, earnings derived from the exhibition of these films are blocked. Producers' agents are prohibited from remitting rental receipts abroad. Formerly Burmese currency receipts were exchanged for foreign currency at Hong Kong and Bangkok, but fearing the uncontrolled drain on its foreign exchange reserves entailed by these operations, the Burmese Government during the past year prohibited this practice and directed that such funds would be authorized for export onl.v if prior approval for conversion has been received. CEYLON — Import permits are not required. Exchange controls which came into effect in June 1948 have not seriously hampered the importation of films. Transmission of foreign exchange is controlled by the Controller of Exchange. The annual quota for motion pictures is about $200,000 established on a historical basis, using the year 1946 as the base period. CHINA — The communist regime has taken over complete control of production, distribution, and exhibition of motion picture films in all areas of 728