The industry critical of the production discount: "Documentary films are excluded"

Already last autumn, the government support of SEK 100 million was presented by then Minister of Culture Amanda Lind (MP).

Since then, the industry players have given their views on the matter via referral bodies.

During Friday, the final version was presented.

"The support is unreasonable"

In order to take part in the support, there are requirements regarding the production's budget.

The total budget for a feature film must be at least SEK 30 million, at least SEK 10 million per episode for a drama series, at least SEK 5 million per episode for a documentary series and at least SEK 10 million for a documentary film.

The last-mentioned budget requirement has aroused feelings within the industry, which believes that such a cost for a Swedish documentary film is unreasonable.

- In Sweden, it is more than twice the average for a documentary film, says Elin Kamlert, chairman of the Association of Independent Filmmakers.

Kamlert believes that she does not understand how the government has thought and believes that the support excludes documentary film and only favors fiction.

According to her, a minimum requirement of SEK 3 million for documentary films would be more realistic.

Isn't support better than nothing?

- Well, that goes without saying, we understand that the discount is needed and long-awaited.

Therefore, it is an extra pity that it disadvantages documentaries and quality films that also exist in this landscape and which are very important.

We don't really understand the logic of only pushing up larger productions and completely ignoring the smaller ones, she says.

"100 million is too little"

The fiction side, for its part, thinks that the overall support is too small and should instead be SEK 300 to 400 million.

Eva Hamilton is chairman of the industry organization Film and TV producers.

She says that they are happy that the support is now being issued and that it is important for Swedish film because large parts of Europe already have similar discounts - but that it will end all too quickly.

- I think that all the hopes that the government now attributes to production incentives will not be fulfilled.

That means the money will quickly run out early in the year and the larger productions will still have to look abroad, she says.

In the clip, you see Elin Kamlert about why she is disappointed.