Last Tuesday's (16th) edition of the Official Journal of the Union (DOU) brought good news for the national cinema.
The current President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), sanctioned Law 14,814, known as Quota law for Brazilian films.
Essentially, it stipulates that companies that own, rent or rent spaces, spaces or venues for commercial public exhibitions are now required to show national productions.
The text also contains a regulation intended to ensure important criteria such as “diversity, balanced competition and effective durability” of Brazilian films at screenings whose days and times tend to be most popular with audiences.
The aim of the law is to promote the sustainability of the film industry in Brasilto make space for films in cinemas while generalizing the access and presence of works in the exhibition park.
Is there any punishment for those who break this law?
In 2023, only 2.6% of cinema admissions in Brazil were national films Photo: Reproduction
If the rooms do not comply with the legal regulations, they are punishable. First, they may be the target of a warning; but if it happens frequently, they can be fined.
The amount of the fine provided for by law is 5% of the cinema's average daily gross revenue multiplied by the number of violations. In other words: the value can be high!
The quota for Brazilian films in cinemas was first established in 2001 by Interim Measure No. 2,2281/2021.
However, the validity period was 20 years. This means that it expired in 2021 and the government has therefore reintroduced the measure.
The new law now approved is valid until December 31, 2033. This is the kind of issue that needs to be rediscussed and approved from time to time, depending on current realities.
In 2023, according to Abraplex, it will only be 2.6% Cinema sessions in Brazil they were reserved for national films.
On TV and streaming
Similar measures are also being applied to television and are poised to reach streaming platforms.
Another law approved by the government requires foreign broadcasters to show national productions for at least 3:30 hours per week. This rate is even higher for Brazilian channels. It reaches 12 hours a day.
Otherwise the proposal imposes the same obligation Streaming platforms.
If approved, they must comply with a national production quota and pay the socalled contribution to the development of the national film industry (condecine).
“This is one of the priority agendas of the Brazilian audiovisual sector and one of the priority agendas this year. Contrary to what is happening in the world, in Brazil it is not yet regulated. It is the future of cinema, of the audiovisual sector,” says the Secretary of Audiovisual at the Ministry of Culture, Joelma Gonzaga.