26-01-2009

Slovenian Culture Ministry Presents its Plans for 2009

By Matevz Rudolf

    Slovenian Culture Minister Majda Sirca said the Ministry will use its €213 million budget in 2009 to improve conditions for filmmakers and other artists with special cultural status.

    Speaking to the press on January 23, Sirca announced changes and completion of the laws on public broadcaster RTV (www.rtvslo.si) and the Slovenian Film Fund (www.film-sklad.si), which needs some changes to assure stable and fluent production in the Slovenian film industry.

    Funding for audiovisual media has been increased by €1 million, allowing for attention to be given to contemporary mass and urban culture and new digital video arts.

    The Culture Minister will also strive to bring back the international film festival of African, Asian, Latin American and Eastern European cinematography, Isola Cinema (www.isolacinema.org). The festival was cancelled last year due insufficient funding from the previous administration at the Slovenian Film Fund.