Year book of motion pictures (1951)

China under their control. Although authorities will allow the import of new films, the prohibitive customs duty and the lack of any remittance of film earning^s will probably prevent such imports. So far as is known no new United States films are being: imported. FIJI ISLANDS— Most films shown in the Fiji Islands are imported from New Zealand and payments is made in New Zealand pounds. Films imported directly from the United States would be subject to license requirements applicable to imports from hard currency areas. IXDI.4 — Imports of motion pictures into India are regulated by licenses issued by Grovernmental import control authorities. Licenses are g-ranted against quotas prescribed for individual importers on the basis of their past imports. The ultimate object in restricting imports is to conserve foreign exchange. Transmission of foreign exchange is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India and is automatically limited by restricting imports. 1ND0CHIX.4 — ^Imports into Indochina are eontrolled by quotas. Import permits are required. Basically no foreign exchange may be transferred without permission of the Exchange Office and this office is very strict in granting exchange for essential imports only. The most popular method of obtaining U. S. films for distribution is by purchase since the question of dollar remittance on earnings is a very delicate one and the exchange control is endeavoring to cut all dollar expenditures. Foreigners may not manufacture or distribute films in Indochina. Films may be distributed only by firms authorized by the Government. Theaters must show French films five weeks out of each thirteen. French influence is expected to remain strong and every effort will be made to push French motion pictures. INDONESI.\ — The Indonesian Foreign Exchange Institute granted the ten United States film companies and one British film company, a joint exchange allotment of fiOO.OOO Indonesian rupiahs for conversion into dollar exchanse during the first four months of 1950. This sum was divided evenly among the 11 companies. In 1950 each company in order to be e'.igible for a foreign exchange allotment must bring in a minimum of 7 feature films during each four months of the year. During the second four months of 1950 the same amount of foreign exchange was allocated, 600,000 rupiahs. In addition, an amount of exchange equal to one company's share of the 600,000 rupiahs was allocated for use of a new independent United States film company entering the market. The equal division of the foreign exchange allocation among the 12 fi'm companies, without regard to their varying rank in the amount of paid admissions, has been a source of dissatisfaction to the companies whose billings are largest. Thus far, efforts on the part of U. S. film companies to induce the Indonesian authorities to allocate exchange on the basis of film rental income has been unsuccessful. The film companies' already large blocked balances, which increase steadily as the bulk of their income cannot be remitted abroad, continues to be a major problem for them. aAPAN — Circular No, 8. dated April 8. 1950. issued by General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) regulates admission and dissemination of all information media into Japan, including motion pictures. United States firms wishing to import and distribute motion pictures in Japan must make application for a license through the Civil Information and Education Section to the Foreign Investment Board of General Headquarters, SCAP. Motion picture producers or distributors, separately or in groups, may be licensed to import and distribute films in Japan. The motion picture industry of any country may bring into Japan in any one calendar year up to the maximum number of films imported from that country and cleared for exhibition in any one calendar year in the ten years prior to December 7, 1941, and actually exhibited within 6 months of the end of the calendar year in which they were brought in. Additional feature films may be admitted provided at least half of the films already imported during the calendar year in question have been regarded as having reorientation value as distinguislied from purely entertainment films. If the applicant belongs to a country other than the United States his application shall be submitted through the mission representing his country in Japan. Trade papers reported that the Motion Picture Export Association and the Japanese Government reached an agreement in July 1950 concerning U. S.film imports. The agreement covered nine months of 1950 and 1951 and provided for the release of 78 United States film programs of features and shorts and authorized United States companies to convert $1,500,000 from accumulated yen earnings in Japan. NEW CALEDONI.-V — Import permits for foreign films are not required, however, special authorization is needed to purchase foreign exchange. There is strict Government control of all transactions which require the transfer of foreign exchange. Permits for the use of foreign exchange are issued theoretically only for items considered of prime necessity. However, in actual practice it has been possible for film importers to obtain the foreign exchange required to fill most of their needs. NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand law makes it mandatory for film distributors to acquire British feature films to the extent of not less than 20 per cent of the number of foreign feature films exhibited. There are no restrictions prohibiting or limiting the transfer of foreign exchange for films. P.\KISTAN — Import permits for individual films are required only if the motion pictures are imported directly from a foreign country in the hard currency area. At present U. S. motion pictures are distributed in Pakistan from headquarters in Bombay and enter Pakistan on a general license. The transfer of foreign e.xchange is limited by the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act of 1947. While severe restrictions are possible under this Act, the Government's dollar position has so far been such that the Act has been liberally administered. Sixty per cent of the receipts from the exhibition of U. S. films are paid by the exhibitor in Pakistan rupees into accounts of the U. S. distributors, who may draw the full amount in dollars. PHILIPPINES — In June 1949, an Act was passed requiring theaters to exhibit pictures made in the Philippines to the extent of 10 per cent of their annual exhibitions. The present Philippine import control law requires that all imports be licensed. There are no quantitative restrictions placed on the imports of motion pictures, however, the import control law of May 19, 1950 places limitations on the remittance of film earnings. This law states that goods intended solely for rent, lease, or exhibition, may be imported without quota allocation, provided that at least 25 per cent of the gross rentals, royalties, and earnings paid therefor shall not be allowed for remittance abroad. Thus, foreign exchange for U. S. film remittances is limited to 75 per cent of film earnings. Foreign exchange for payments is made available to holders of valid import licenses. SINGAPORE Ayro MALAYA — An import permit is required for the purchase and importation of motion pictures into Singapore. In considering an application for an import permit the Controller of Imports and Exports is guided by the advice and recommendation of the Official Film Censor. According to the Foreign Exchange Regulations, the purchase of foreign exchange for outward remittances is prohibited except with special permission of the Controller of Foreign Exchange. Each of the major U. S. film companies operating in Singapore has its own agreement with the Controller of Foreign Exchange. It is estimated that the remittance of profits homeward by U. S. film 729