Kinematograph year book (1950)

Overseas. 617 rapid change expected. Some Swedish producers have started to produce their films in foreign versions for the world markets : Lorens Marmstedt (Terra Film), during the past summer, produced " Singoalla " in Swedish, English and French versions, and Inge Ivarsson (Kungsfilm) is to start productions in co-operation with American producers. Only a few of the films produced during 1949 could compete in the world markets. Best Swedish films during 1949 are : " Soldat Bom," " Eva," and " Kvinna I Vitt " (Svensk Fumindustri) ; " Gatan," " Flottans Kavaljerer " (Kungsfilm), and " Fengelse " (Terra Film). English and Swedish versions : "Singoalla" (Terra Film) and " Havets Son" (Sandrew-Bauman Film). Censorship : films are classified into three categories — White Seal (totally banned), Red Seal (general audiences), and Yellow Seal (adults only). — Svex G. Winquist. STUDIOS Svensk Filmindustri's Studios, Filmstaden, Rasunda. Europa Studio, Sundbyberg. Centrumateljeerna, Stockholm. (Owned by Sandrew-Bauman Film.) Sandrew-Bauman Film, Stockholm and Xo villa, near Stockholm. TURKEY "\T7HILE there are no special restrictions on film importation an admission tax differential of 70 per cent, on imported films and 25 per cent, on native films has been introduced since August 1, 1948. Admission prices are fixed by municipalities. Distribution : First-run films shown during the seven months from September, 1948, to March, 1949, totalled 189, including 117 U.S. ; 19 French, 15 British, 15 Italian, 14 Turkish, 7 Egyptian, 1 Greek, 1 Spanish. Of the imported films, 50 were dubbed in Turkish. Kinemas : Estimated at 200 to 250 — 50 of them operating during the hot summer period ; 100 — 150 during the winter season. A modern theatre was opened in Ankara early in 1949, the " Buyuk," seating 1,600. Two other major kinemas are under construction in Ankara and Adana, respectively. Production : 10 feature films in 1946 ; 7 in 1947 ; 14 in 1948 ; 20 to 25 films are expected in 1949. Two studios are in operation. H. H. WOLLEXBERG. SWITZERLAND THE Federal decree of July 7, 1939, granting distributors the right to import feature films to the same extent as were imported during the four-year period from January 1, 1935, to December 31, 1938, is the only Federal legislation concerning the film. The establishment of new distributing firms is thus practically impossible, as they would not be able to obtain a share in the quota. The Schweizer Filmkammer, Berne (Swiss Film Chamber), calls for a gradual decrease of imports through the application of the import regulations. Switzerland has 410 kinemas, according to the latest figures. These include 245 in the German, 137 in the French, and 28 in the Italian-speaking areas of the Federation. Film censorship and other legislation is the prerogative of each of the 25 Cantons which form the Swiss Federation ; their rulings differ widely. The total of theatres in the German and Italian-speaking areas are organised within the Schweizer Lichtspiel Theatre Verband, Bahnhof strasse 89, Zurich ; the theatres in the Frenchspeaking area in the Association Cinematographique Suisse Romande, with headquarters at 6, rue du Lion d'Or, Lausanne. The renters' organisation is Film-Verleiher Verband in der Schweiz, Marktgasse, 37, Berne. Only members of these organisations are permitted to distribute or exhibit films. There is also a special ruling by which a sub-standard film can only be hired from a renter who owns the 35 -mm. rights of the film. There is also a producers' association, Verband Schweizerischer Film-Produzenten, Rennweg 59, Zurich ; its members are essentially concerned with the production of shorts. The two major studios are at Zurich and at Munchenstein (Basle). STUDIOS Filmstudio Bellerive A.-G., Kreuzstrasse 2, Zurich. Tonfilm Frobenius A,-6., Munchenstein, Basle. VENEZUELA "\^EXEZUELA has approximately 338 com» mercial kinemas. Total seating capacity of 225,000 for 3,500,000 inhabitants. The most important kinema circuit is the Circuito Venezolano de Cines with 25 houses. The Carcel y Muro circuit has 4 first-run houses in the capital. Admission prices : First-run theatres in Caracas, the capital, charge from 0.50 to 3.25 bolivars (approx. 3s. iod.) ; Second-run and other theatres in Caracas, 0.25 to 1.25 bolivars. In other big cities prices range from 0.25 to 2.50 bolivars. Censorship : all films are censored by board under the name of Junta Revisora de Espectaculos. Films are classified as 'A" for unrestricted exhibition and " B " for adults only. Customs duties : These vary according to the value of the film and the duty L paid on the gross weight. Film material on which duty has to be paid is classified as follows : prints, photographic propaganda material and posters. So far no restrictions on foreign films have been imposed. Production •„ the only two production companies are Productora Cinematografica Bolivar Films, at Chacao, and Atlas Films, at Caracas. Production facilities consist of two studios and stages. Output is estimated at 5 features. 20 shorts and 80 newsreels per annum. Distribution : the annual demand is estimated at 450 feature films, 200 shorts, and 300 newsreels. A programme for the showing of education films in schools was instituted by the Venezuelan Ministry of National Education some years ago, but owing to lack of funds this programme was never fully developed. The Government produced three educational films of good quality, but the studios in which they were made have since shut down and nothing further has been done in respect of educational films. — H. H. WOLLENBERG. T*