Corina Șuteu, Minister of Culture, stated numerous times that the institutions linked to Romanian cinematography need structural changes in order to be functional.At the
pressconference following the
signing, in Cannes, of the Co-operation Convention between CNC Franceand CNC Romania, Corina Șuteu talked about the priority of such reformand about the action plan drawn up by the Ministry of Culture. The measures proposed for the legislation amendment were drawn up by a work group made up of several filmmakers, being
backed up by several people involved inthe industry.
In the message conveyed by the Ministry of Culture, Corina Șuteu reaffirms the attachment to cinematography, seen as a true honorary ambassador of Romania in the entire world, but also the need of change. The international successes of Romanian cinema have no correspondent in the domestic film support, production and distribution.
Cinema reform must go on
Cinematography is a priority. I am affirming this and I will continue to do so because of a simple reason: this cultural field, that has brought Romania so much prestigeover the last decade, and that brought film lovers all over the world so much joy, has been neglected too long by the people governing us.And this fact is reflected not only in a legislative framework that is outdated and lacking in its most part, but also in the operation of the applicable institutions, which correspond only partially to the needs of an expanding industry.
A large part of my efforts as Minister of Culture are channelled to improving the legislative framework, and also to restructure certain institutions fundamental to cinematography: the National Filmmaking Center, the National Film Archives and the Cinematheque, and, moreover, to giving more and more support to film production, cinema education and revitalising movie theatres within city centres. All my work has been backed up by a large number of filmmakers, and I would like to hereby thank them for that. Representative filmmakers belonging to different generations (
Cristian Mungiu,
Tudor Giurgiu,
Paul Negoescu,
Bogdan Mustață,
Florin Mihăilescu), as well as cultural politics' experts and CNC representatives have been pro-actively involved, within a work group created within the Ministry of Culture, in the process of amending the legislative framework pertaining to cinematography. Dozens of other filmmakers became also involved, when it came to consulting the community, by sending as feedback as regards their own opinions concerting the changes proposed by the work group. A large part of the active community took part for months on end to this work, in the hope of seeing such fundamental and much needed changes become a reality. There were, nonetheless, other voices – with a strong impact in various political influence spheres – that opposed the idea of any reform brought to the cinematography system, andthey will probably continue to remain vocal. This is also a natural phenomenon.
The failure of such legislative amendments essential to the cinema system's reform, submitted by us to the Government and the Parliament, would be, however, adisservice tothe entire Romanian cinemacommunity. As for me, I want to reassure everybody that I will carry on looking for ways and means able to improve the legislative framework and the institutions linked to the cinema industry. The reform must be brought to its conclusion.
Corina Șuteu
Romanian Minister of Culture
