Year book of motion pictures (1938)

registration of such agreements will be made by the State Film Central on special forms issued for that purpose. Film enterprises must submit the above forms containing a brief summary of the agreements, together with the original agreements. Each form must bear the seal and responsible signature of the enterprise. The State Film Central keeps these forms in its files for checking purposes. The State Film Central collects for these forms 25 dinars each for films up to 60 meters in length, and 50 dinars each for films exceeding that length. Censorship^ — 'During the year 1936, 870 films were submitted for registration and censorship in Yugoslavia. 786 of these films were foreign and 84 domestic. During the same period 5 foreign films were banned for public showing of which one was American. This was a short 38-meter film dealing with the revolution in Spain, and was rejected for political reasons. The Yugoslav censorship of moving picture films is, for political reasons very strict. This censorship is in the hands of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, control of the State Film Central having been transferred to that Ministry. Competition — Approximately 57 percent of the films shown are American. The balance is divided among German, French, Austrian, British, Czechoslovak and Russian films in the order given. Local production is of no importance. American pictures are very pojjular with the public in most parts of the Kingdom and the official attitude towards them is favorable. Copyright Relations — There are no copyright relations with the United States. Production — During 1936, 84 motion pictures were produced in Yugoslavia, of which 74 were sound, and 10 were silent. These were short films mostly cultural, educational and advertising. Production of feature films has tlius far been unsuccessful. The production facilities are inadequate. The existing companies are small, poorly organized and not sufficiently financed. Under such conditions they are unable to do any serious work and are confined to the production of short cultural and advertising films only. It is believed that most of the existing companies will eventually be forced out of business. To assist the promotion of domestic i>roduction in accordance with Article 3 of the Law for the regulation of film traffic, the Minister of Commerce and Industry is authorized to render financial assistance to domestic motion picture industry from the income derived from: 1) Fines imposed on motion picture theaters for violation of the provisions of Article 9 of the Law for the regulation of film traffic. 2) Sales of form No. 1 controllinig the showing of educational and domestic films. 3) Sales of Forms Nos. 3 and 4 for the registration and control of the contracts and foreign producers. 4) Supplementary income and invoices exchanged between film importers provided if required. However, it may be stated, that the Government so far has not done much towards the promotion of domestic industry. As regards "dubbing" it may be stated that there would not be any objection to American films "dubbed" in the native language. The predominant language of the country is Serbo-Croatian. Foreign films are not required to be "dubbed" in the country in which they are shown. Taxes — ^According to the Taxation Law, the cinema theaters pay a State tax amounting to 20 percent of the full value of each ticket sold ; the municipal tax is fixed at 50 percent of the State tax, and other autonomous taxes assessed range up to 40 percent of the State tax. The total taxation on cinema tickets approximates 31.80 percent of the sale price. In addition, a tax of 1 dinar per ticket is assessed on cinema tickets in cities where there are National Theaters. A censor tax is assessed on films imported or produced in the country, as follows: (1) On cultural films, 1.50 dinars per meter; (2) on other films, 3.00 dinars per meter. Films produced in the country pay one-half of the above taxes until the expiration of the term of 10 years, following which, presumably, they will be taxed as are imported films. For the examination of films, either foreign or domestic, 0.45 dinars per meter, and for other expenses, 0.10 dinars per meter, aggregating 0.55 dinars per meter. The import duty on motion picture films imported into Yugoslavia is: Tariff No. 418. 1-b; Films for cinemas, whether exposed or not ; Maximum rate: 325 gold dinars per 100 kilograms. Minimum rate: 250 gold dinars per 100 kilograms. The above rates, although assessed in gold dinars, are collected in paper dinars at the rate of 12 paper dinars to 1 gold dinar. American films, if accompanied by certificates of origin, are entitled to the minimum rate. Theaters — There are 349 theaters in Yugoslavia with a total seating capacity of 105,924. The average admission price ranges from 2-25 dinars and musical comedies are the favorite type of pictures, followed by operettas, etc. The yearly gross income at theaters is around 120,000,000 dinars ($2,500,000). Sound — There are 301 theaters wired for sound and at present there are no prospects for selling sound equipment in Yugoslavia inasmuch as the more prosperous theaters are already equipped and the silent theaters are located in small villages and are not in a position to invest sufficient money. Imports from the United States — 1936— Positiye Sound 865,022 ft. $17,049 Negative Sound — — ^ ft. 19'37— (First 11 months) Positive Sound 880,930 ft. $18,496 Negative Sound ft. DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS ZAGREB Alfa Film, 6 Jelacicev trg. Atlantis Film, 6 Varsavska. Avala Film, 3 Gunduliceva. Bosna Film, 1 Jelacicev trg. Fox Film, 8 Gajeva. Jugofilm, 2 Varsavska. Kleinleinfilm, 6 Jelacicev trg. Kozmos Film, 6 Frankopanska. Merkur Film, 3 Gunduliceva. Metro Goldwyn, 17 Pejacevicev trg. Pan Film, 11 Svacicev trg. Paramount Film, 5a Frankopanska. Star Film, 7 Baruna Jelacica. Warner Bros., 34 Ilica. BEOGRAD Artistic Film, 90 Kralja Aleksandra. Eros Film, 80 Strahinica Bana. Franjug Film, 42 Strahinica Bana Ideal Film, 15 Kondina. Rosa Film, 18 Drinciceva. Tesla Fiilm, 56 Kralja Petra. 1272