Presentation for SCMS 2024 Conference: "Coexistence between American cinema and national cinemas in small European countries: distribution and legislation"

This presentation intends to unpack how cinema from European

nations (especially small countries) coexists in small film markets with American

cinema. Historically, American or “Hollywood” cinema has dominated the market

share (i.e. distribution and exhibition) in Europe and its output has largely

outnumbered that of local productions. Thus, the preservation of diversity has

depended not just on industry-related factors, but also on national and

supranational legislation.

This study will use and combine the existing scholarship and expand it. It will do

so by providing an overview of the main issues associated with the exhibition

and distribution of American and national films in European countries, and by

doing a comparative analysis of local and EU legislation to see how the question

of cultural diversity has been addressed in recent years by small European

countries. Thus, the compiled information that this presentation will bring to the

fore will complement an original comparative study that will focus on the ratio

legis to see how these measures differ among themselves and assess to what

extent they have been effective, fair for the market and adjusted to each specific

reality.

To achieve these goals, the research will resort to academic literature and

studies, preliminary findings from the EU-funded CRESCINE project, as well as

other relevant sources of information for this case, such as reports, statistics,

and legal documents. In the introduction, the state of affairs of the coexistence

of American and national cinema in small countries will be exposed, along with

the research methods. Afterwards, a concise presentation of how countries aremanaging this economic conjuncture will ensue. The conclusion will shed light

on the results of policies and their outcome for the maintenance of cultural

diversity and the film market. This will give us not just a holistic perspective on

this subject, but also arguments and evidence to discuss the future of European

film production, policymaking and the complex dynamics of the international film

circuit.