Year book of motion pictures (1929)

Censorship — Quite liberal. Although censorship has been completely abolished since the establishment of the republic, strict enforcement is practised by the state governments. Competition — 50% American, 40% German, 10% all others. Copyright Relations — Established by Presidential Proclamation Seot. 20, 1907, extended April 9, 1910, and March 11, 1925. Production — There are four studios in Austria : Vita, Listo, Schoenbrunn and Sascha and six or seven producing units, Sascha being the biggest. This company operates under a cooperative arrangement with British International of London. Total Austrian production for 1928, 20 pictures as against 16 in 1927. Taxes — The following special fees and taxes are in effect : 1 — Import licenses range from $250 to $300 each. 2 — Censor's fee approximately 25 schillings ($3.60) per 1,000 meters. 3 — "Vorfuehrungsgebuehr." from 200 to 400 schillings ($28.60 to $57.20) per film. 4 — Municipal tax on admission tickets, 30 per cent of gross receipts for first class and 20 per cent of gross receipts for second class. 5 — Government tax on admission tickets (turnover tax) t\v0 per cent. 6 — The owner or lessee of the theater pays the usual taxes (tax on earnings and on personal income) and has to pay various Government or municipal public welfare taxes (unemployment fund, insurance of employees against illness and accidents, pension funds, etc.) Theaters — 723. As of July 1, 1928, 723 houses in Austria seated 189,000. Of this total. 423 with 139,000 seats operate daily while the remainder with 50,000 seats operate irregularly. There is one theater seating between 1,500 and 2,000; six, seating between 1,000 and 1,500; 22, between 750 and 1.000 seats; 50, between 500 and 750 seats and 344. with less than 500 seats each. Irrnor's from U. S. A. — 1927— 1,489,369 ft. ; value $33,233. 1928— 1,825,748 ft.; value $43,200. Exports to U. S. A. — 1927— 89,782 ft.; value $27,867. 1928— 33,370 ft.; value $ 895. General — Failure of Austrian production to live up to quota requirements on the basis of one Austrian picture for each ten imported was responsible for adoption of the more elastic quota now in force. However, regulations have become more severe. Each contingent permit allows importation of three prints of one picture, but every additional print involves a separate contingent. This regulation has shot the price of contingents from $120 to $150 each in 1927 to $250 to $300 each in 1928. DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS VIENNA Artistic Film, Neubaugasse 25. Bart, Adolf, Seidengasse 4. Berka, Oscar Braunschweiggasse 17. Bohm. Erich. Keilgasse 6. Elite-Film, Neubaugasse 38. Engel, Film-Hugo, Neubaugasse 28. Engel & Walter, Neubaugasse 25. Excelsior Film. S'ebensterngasse 39. Fox Film Corp., Mariahilferstr 47. Gaumont-G.m.b.H.. Mariahilferstr. 57-59. Hofbauer, Gotz, Mariahilferstr. 51. Ifuk, Mariahilferstr. 47. Koppelmann & Reiter, Neubaugasse 25. Lux Filmfabrikation, Neubaugasse 25. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film. G.m.b.H., Neubaugasse 1. Mondial Film Industrie, Neubaugasse 2. Muller, Robert. Neubaugasse 25. Newa Film, Neubaugasse 38. Oesterreichische Filmindustrie, Neubaugasse 64. Pan Film A. G., Neubaugasse 64. Paramount Films, G.m.b.H., Neubaugasse 1. Phillip and Co., Neubaugasse 12. Sascha Filmindustrie, Siebensterngasse 31. Schafer, Josef and Guttmann, Neubaugasse 2. Schwarzenberg. J., Neubaugasse 25. Superfim, Lindengasse 49. Ufa Film, Neubaugasse 1. Universal Film G.m.b.H., Mariahilferstr. 7. Weil and Co.. Eduard. Neubaugasse 25. Wiener Lichtbilderei, Neubaugasse 38. Wiener Volksbildungsverein, Stobergasse 11. BALTIC STATES See Estonia, Latvia; Lithuania. BELGIUM Agitation — None. Censorship — Very strict. Government censorship established by a royal decree issued in 1920. Children under 16 not permitted in theaters, unless films have been accepted by censors. Films must obtain an authorization card by submitting a detailed scenario in duplicate. One copy of the card must accompany the film everywhere and be shown on demand. Competition — 80% American ; remaining 20% divided between Germany and France. Copyright Relations — Established by Presidential Proclamation July 1, 1891, extended April 9, 1910, and June 14, 1911. Production — Sporadic efforts have resulted in little or no success. Taxes — Heavy. Customs regulation provides for a duty of 30 centimes per one imported meter of negative film, and 45 centimes for every imported meter of positive. Admission ticket tax of April 1. 1927, is as follows: Tickets up to 2 francs — 10 per cent; from 2 to 3 francs — 12 per cent; 3 to 5 francs — 16 per cent; 5 to 7 francs — 20 per cent, and over 7 francs — 24 per cent. The provinces and communes have the right to apply additional taxes as they see fit. Theaters — 797. Brussels, 92 ; Antwerp, 40. Imports from U. S. A. — 1927— 5.611,453 ft.; value $149,221. 1928— 5,220,146 ft.; value $171,667. Exports to U. S. A. — 1928—57,250 ft.; value $11,100. DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS BRUSSELS A. B. C. Films, 157 Rue Verte. Abrassart, Blvd. Anspach 135. Agence Generate Cinematographique, 30 Blvd. Baudouin. Alliance Cinematographique Europeene, 68 Rue Neuve. Artistes Associes, 18 Rue d'Arenberg. Astra Film, 29 Rue de Chemin-de-Fer. Aubert, 68 Rue Neuve. Auror Film, 70 Rue de Brabant. Baudon Saint-Lo, 115 Rue des Plantes. Belot, C, 26 Rue de Poincon. Belgian Film, 8 Rue Dupont. Belgo International Film, 76 Rue de Marais. Bodart & Co., 95 Rue des Plantes. Brabo Film, 102 Rue de Brabant. Bral. H., 115 Rue Verte. C. C. B., 30 Rue de Marche. Central Film. 106 Rue Linnee. Cercle Catholique, 21 Rue de la Serrure. Comptoir Du Film, 138 Blvd. E. Jacqmain. Conratte, cine Harry, Rue des Plantes 97. Crosly Film, 74 Rue Verte. Dardenne & Co., J., 30 Rue Dupont. Delnove & Co., 115 Rue des Plantes. Dubois, C, 40 Rue des Plantes. Radio, Wireless — Are Film Daily News Aids 1013