Brazil's First Oscar?

 

Brazilians are flocking to the cinema to see the homegrown film 'Anida Estuò Aqui (I'm Still Here)'. Released on November 7th, this film has sold over two million admissions to date, beating out 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' at the Brazilian box office.

'I'm Still Here' is based on a true story of Eunice Paiva. It was directed by Walter Salles and has won numerous festival awards, and high critical scores. It has been nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and it would not be a surprise me if Fernanda Torres, who portrays Eunice Paiva in the film, is nominated for Best Actor award.

If you see it on a marquee or showings at a local cinema, go and see it.

By: Jim Lavorato

Iceland's Push for Film Production

Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon with volcano in background

 Iceland has witnessed a leap in movie production since it increased its production rebate to 35% on qualified large projects. From HBO to BBC Productions, Iceland is the new to-go production destination. With its natural beauty, highlighted by hot springs, volcanos, and pristine landscapes, Iceland offers a unique venue for outdoor film production.

The increased rebate, it was 25%, has brought in millions of production dollars which has greatly helped many local communities with an influx of new monies and knowledge gained in the latest filmmaking techniques. On the production side, for example, using Iceland's famous geothermal energy to power sets and stages offers a huge savings in costs. 

The Icelandic Film Commission has noted that although production has been great, the goal is to develop other areas of the film business, i.e. VFX to music scoring, and other postproduction activities. It is estimated that the delivers a 5-7x return on investment.

In a competitive gesture, Denmark just approved a tax incentive to lure in film production activities. The Danish incentive will launch in 2026 starting with an annual budget of $17.5 million (one of the largest in Europe) and be focused on making Denmark a hub for film production. For example, Netflix has six productions in Sweden, six in Norway, and only three in Denmark, so its 'game-on'.

By: Jim Lavorato

 

Cinemas...Indispensable Community Assets

 Art-house cinemas are an easy fit into urban culture and community but do local cinemas have the same social impact?

Studies by the British Film Institute (BFI) show that cinemas, large circuits to single screen movie houses, are an anchor in a world of change. While restaurants and stores come and go, the local cinemas remain a constant. In fact, the BFI study shows that people, across all demographics, would be willing to donate $15/year just to prevent their local cinema from being repurposed into any other function. 63% of respondents stated that having a local cinema gave them a sense of pride - pushing that number to 70% if the venue included a cafe or bar.

Cinemas are local and global. They present content that has worldwide viewership while employing local friends and neighbors - so the majority of the value they create stays in the community. 

Today, moviegoers are also avid users of all forms of media. For example, 72% of moviegoers are gamers, while 53% stream movies, and 64% are sports lovers and watchers.

There is nothing 'old' about going to the movies. It's an integral part of urban, suburban, and rural life and as a community anchor has no equal.

By: Jim Lavorato