Iceland Film Centre says attracting foreign projects is not its role

The Icelandic Film Centre says attracting foreign film and television projects is not its responsibility, mbl.is reports. That role belongs to Film in Iceland, an initiative of Business Iceland that promotes Iceland as a filming location for foreign productions.

The centre issued the statement in response to discussion about the state of filmmaking in Iceland. It also stressed that the Film Fund and the film production reimbursement scheme are two separate systems covering different areas of the state budget. Changes to funding for one system do not affect the other.

The statement followed an interview published in Morgunblaðið on Saturday with Alfred Ásberg, chief executive of Sambíóin. He said it was reasonable to ask whether the Icelandic Film Centre was actively seeking foreign film projects abroad.

The centre said that this was not its role, but rather the role of Business Iceland.

The centre also corrected a claim that one film fund allocated money to both Icelandic and foreign projects. It said the two forms of support operated under separate systems.

Under its statutory role, the Icelandic Film Centre oversees the operation of the Film Fund, promotes Icelandic film culture, supports the promotion, distribution and sale of Icelandic films at home and abroad, shares information about Icelandic films and strengthens cooperation with foreign parties in film-related matters.

The Film Fund operates under the Icelandic Film Centre in accordance with Film Act No. 137/2001. Its role is to support Icelandic filmmaking financially, including through grants for the development, production and promotion of Icelandic films, documentaries, short films and scripted television content.

Film production reimbursements are instead based on separate legislation, Act No. 43/1999. The scheme reimburses part of the production costs incurred by film and television productions in Iceland.

The Icelandic Film Centre assists a minister-appointed committee with the reimbursement scheme and administers applications submitted under it.

The centre said Icelandic filmmaking had grown stronger since the Icelandic Film Centre was established.