International film co-production in Europe A publication May 2018
Index 1. What is a co-production? 2. Legal instruments for co-production 3. Production in Europe 4. Co-production volume in Europe 5. Co-production partners in films 6. Theatrical admissions & circulation of co-productions 7. Circulation of co-productions on TV 8. Circulation of co-productions on TVOD 9. Circulation of co-productions: summary
1. What is a co-production? What is a co-production? Production of an audiovisual work by more than one producer. Each co-producer co-owns the work. Agreed upon via a co-production contract. A co-producer is NOT somebody who merely participates in the financing of the work (without co-owning it); acquires distribution rights through a pre-sales contract.
1. What is a co-production? What is an official international co-production? Co-producers come from different countries. Based on a bilateral or multilateral co-production agreement. The work will be considered national in all countries involved and therefore be eligible for public funding in all those countries.
2. Legal instruments for co-production International co-production agreements Most countries have signed bilateral or multilateral agreements with other countries concerning the regulation of international co-productions and the acquisition of national status. A co-production agreement lists the requirements (financial, artistic and technical) for a co-production to be categorised as national (allowing films to receive national public funding). The co-production must be approved by the authorities representing each signatory to the agreement (normally ministry of culture or national film agency).
2. Legal instruments for co-production CoE Convention on Cinematographic Co-production (1) Governs relations between Parties in the field of multilateral cinematographic co-productions originating in the territory of the Parties. Applies to: co-productions with at least three co-producers, established in three different Parties to the Convention. May include co-producers that are not established in such Parties as long as their contribution does not exceed 30% of the total cost of the production. bilateral co-productions between two Parties to this Convention in the absence of any bilateral agreement.
2. Legal instruments for co-production CoE Convention on Cinematographic Co-production (2) Minimum contribution may not be less than 5% and the maximum contribution may not exceed 80% of the total production cost. In bilateral co-productions, the minimum contribution may not be less than 10% and the largest contribution may not exceed 90% of the total production cost. When the minimum contribution is less than 20% or the co-production is financial only, the Party concerned may reduce or bar access to national production support schemes. Co-production guarantees joint ownership of the film. Each party must facilitate the production of the film. Each state party must designate a competent authority for applying the Convention.
2. Legal instruments for co-production The importance of being The EU promotes works on TV and VoD through the quota provisions of the Media Services Directive. These foresee: A majority proportion of TV time for works*; A 10% TV time or alternately, at the discretion of the Member State, at least 10 % of their programming budget, for independent producers*; The promotion of production of/access to works on VoD services. * Excluding the time appointed to news, sports events, games, advertising, teletext services and teleshopping.
2. Legal instruments for co-production How co-productions qualify as works Origin of the work EU member state third States party to the Convention on Transfrontier Television of the Council of Europe Co-produced within the framework of agreements related to the audiovisual sector concluded between the Union and third countries Co-produced within the framework of bilateral co-production agreements concluded between Member States and third countries Conditions concerning the work Mainly made with authors and workers residing in one or more of the States referred to provided that they comply with one of the following three conditions: they are made by one or more producers established in one or more of those States; the production of the works is supervised and actually controlled by one or more producers established in one or more of those States; the contribution of co-producers of those States to the total coproduction costs is preponderant and the co-production is not controlled by one or more producers established outside those States. Fulfill the conditions defined in each of those agreements. Co-producers from the Union supply a majority share of the total cost of production. Production is not controlled by one or more producers established outside the territory of the Member States.
3. Production in Europe Production in Europe boomed between 2007 and 2016. More than 18 000 films were produced in Europe between 2007 and 2016, with overall production going from 1 422 feature films in 2007 to 2 123 in 2016. Evolution of production volume in Europe* by type of production (total, 100% national and majority co-production), 2007-2016 2500 2000 1500 1000 100% National Maj. co-prod. Total 500 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 * The 28 EU countries plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, «The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia», Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey. Source: National film centres, OBS
3. Production in Europe The top five producing countries accounted for 53.6% of overall production in Europe. 10 countries more than doubled their production volume over the period (RO, BG, LV, BA, TR, LT, SK, SI, FI and MK) Most of the fastest-growing producing countries were located in Eastern Europe. Top producing countries, 2007-2016 In share of total feature films FR 11.2% DE 9.7% GB 14.4% 53.6% ES 9.6% IT 8.4% Source: National film centres, OBS RU 5.7% Others 26.7% CH 4.7% DK 2.4% NL 2.9% TR 4.4%
4. Co-production volume in Europe About 20% of productions are international coproductions. countries by share of majority co-productions out of the total number of national productions, 2007-2016 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% BE LU CY IE SK MK PT HR DK SE IS NL FR BA NO ES CH ME DE AT CZ RO EU 28* BG EUR 36 EE LV SI LT Non-EU EUROPE FI GR PL IT RU GB TR HU MT * The 28 EU countries plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, «The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia», Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey. Source: National film centres, OBS
4. Co-production volume in Europe Even share of majority and minority co-productions among main production countries. countries by number of productions broken down into fully national, majority and minority co-productions, 2007-2016 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 GB FR DE ES IT RU CH TR NL BE DK SE CZ PL AT RO FI GR IE HU NO PT EE LU SK BG HR LV SI MK BA LT IS ME CY MT Min. co-prod. Maj. co-prod. 100% national Source: National film centres, OBS
4. Co-production volume in Europe There was more co-production activity in feature fiction (22% of national productions) than in feature documentaries (16%). The top producing countries were also the top co-producing countries. France tops the list with 566 co-productions over the 2007-2016 period, followed by Spain (460), Germany (411) and Switzerland (221). Only 11 out of 36 countries co-produced more than a yearly average of 10 films.
5. Co-production partners in films 5 203 bilateral interactions in 3 236 co-productions with participation between 2010 and 2015. 2 329 of them were majority co-productions. They involved 105 countries as majority co-producer and 142 countries as minority co-producer. Feature films with involvement, 2010-2015 907 1 781 548 7 294 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Non-EUR films EUR films with at least one EUR partner Source: National film centres, OBS EUR films without EUR partners 100% national EUR films
5. Co-production partners in films The Franco-Belgian co-production was the most frequent (207 between 2010 and 2015). France was involved in seven of the top ten most frequent interactions. Most frequent co-productions with EUR countries as majority co- producer, 2010-2015 250 200 150 100 50 0 FR/BE GB/US IT/FR FR/DE BE/FR GB/FR GB inc.*/us DE/FR ES/FR DE/AT CH/DE * inc. stands for incoming investment film, defined as one for which the main producer is a company established in a country but under the ownership and/or control of a company registered in another country. Source: National film centres, OBS
5. Co-production partners in films More than 61% of the interactions in majority co-productions were with EU partners. Share of partners outside the EU (in majority co-productions of the countries listed), 2010-2015 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% GB inc.* RU PT EE GB ES DE HR CH AT EU EUR SE Non-EU EUR BG FR IT DK LV NO NL MK GR FI RO PL HU IS SI IE TR BE CZ LT LU BA SK CY * inc. stands for incoming investment film, defined as one for which the main producer is a company established in a country but under the ownership and/or control of a company registered in another country. Source: OBS Lumière Database
5. Co-production partners in films The US was by far the main non- co-production partner in majority co-productions, with almost as many interactions as the other nine countries in the top 10. Most frequent non- co-producers of majority co-productions, 2010-2015 By number of films in which they were involved 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 US CA AR BR IN IL CN UA CS MA Source: OBS Lumière Database
5. Co-production partners in films Only seven of the countries covered interacted with more than 50 countries. Number of countries involved in co-productions with the top 10 co-producing countries as majority or minority co-production partner, 2010-2015 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 FR DE GB IT CH NL ES DK SE BE GB inc.* Majority co-production Minority co-production * inc. stands for incoming investment film, defined as one for which the main producer is a company established in a country but under the ownership and/or control of a company registered in another country. Source: OBS Lumière Database
5. Co-production partners in films countries co-produced with an average of 1.58 countries per co-production. The most common collaboration was in the form of bi-lateral co-production. Average number of co-production partners by main country of production, 2010-2015 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 1,5 1 0,5 0 BA IS DK MK IE GR LU SI FI HR HU BE NO BG AT SE GB NL RO Non-EU EUR RU DE EUR EU CH EE PT LT LV IT ES GB inc.* FR PL TR CZ * inc. stands for incoming investment film, defined as one for which the main producer is a company established in a country but under the ownership and/or control of a company registered in another country. Source: OBS Lumière Database
5. Co-production partners in films The average number of co-production partners increased in Europe between 2010 and 2014. It decreased in 2015 due to the sharp decrease in partners working with Russia, Turkey and Switzerland. Evolution of the average number of co-production countries, 2010-2015 1.90 1.80 1.70 1.60 1.50 Non-EU EUR EUR 36 EU 28* 1.40 1.30 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 * The 28 EU countries plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, «The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia», Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey. Source: OBS Lumière Database
6. Theatrical admissions & circulation of co-productions co-productions circulate almost twice as much as purely national productions. A total of 39.5% of the films produced in Europe between 2010 and 2015 received a theatrical release in a country other than the main production country. For majority co-productions, this figure rises to 62.9% over the same period.
6. Theatrical admissions & circulation of co-productions Co-productions account for 55% of EU cinema exports by number of titles within the EU. Share of co-productions and 100% national productions out of 2 501 EU non-national films* In % of total and units For smaller film-producing countries, co-productions were essential for intra-eu film exports. Coproductions 55% 1 387 100% national productions 45% 1 114 The share of intra-eu film exports for co-productions was larger than the co-production share of overall film productions. * First releases in cinemas in 25 EU countries (EU minues Croatia, Ireland and Malta) in 2015 Source: OBS Lumière Database
6. Theatrical admissions & circulation of co-productions Theatrical - Co-productions share of total film exports within the EU by country* IS In smaller countries co-productions account for most or all exports. IE 74% PT 83% ES 48% GB 49% * First releases in cinemas in 25 EU countries (EU minus Croatia, Ireland and Malta) in 2015. PL DE 22% 74% 50% LU CZ 100% 31% SK AT 57% CH FR 48% NL 57% BE NO DK 53% IT 67% SE 66% 31% SI 50% MT HU 85% FI 75% EE 57% LV 100% LT 100% BY GR 85% RO 84% UA BG 100% CY RU TR Source: OBS Lumière Database
6. Theatrical admissions & circulation of co-productions majority co-productions generate on average 3 times more admissions than purely national films. majority co-productions account for only 24.2% of the total production volume over the period 2010-2015. Admissions to co-productions were higher than those for purely national films, amounting to a yearly average of 262.9 million admissions over the period 2010-2015, i.e. 50.3% of overall admissions to films.
6. Theatrical admissions & circulation of co-productions GB inc.* films excluded, co-productions generate on average just 1.6 times more admissions than purely national films. Average admissions to purely national films and co-productions in selected territories, 2010-2015 Non-EU EUR 253 409 128 459 EUR without GB inc.* 213 810 366 256 EU without GB inc.* 204 095 398 215 EUR 36 213 810 676 758 EU 28 204 095 748 657 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 100% national Co-productions * inc. stands for incoming investment film, defined as one for which the main producer is a company established in a country but under the ownership and/or control of a company registered in another country. Source: OBS Lumière Database
7. Circulation of co-productions on TV 51% of all EU non-national films on TV were co-productions. TV - Share of co-productions and 100% national productions out of 5 058 EU non-national films* In % of total and units For several countries (LT, LU, MT, SI, PT, RO, IE, SK, FI, HU) co-productions represented more than 75% of their film exports on TV. Coproductions 51% 2 569 100% national productions 49% 2 489 Only for LV, DE, PL, NL and CY did co-productions represent less than 1/3 of exports on TV. * Films broadcast in 18 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden) during the TV season September 2015 to June 2016, comprising 131 TV channels (public, commercial and pay TV). Source: Eurodata TV
7. Circulation of co-productions on TV TV Co-productions share of film exports within the EU by country* IS For several countries (LT, LU, MT, SI, PT, RO, IE, SK, FI, HU) co-productions represented more than 75% of their film exports by number of titles to the EU. IE 80% PT 86% ES 49% GB 53% FR 52% NL 19% BE 59% LU * Films broadcast in 18 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden) during the TV season September 2015 to June 2016, comprising 131 TV channels (public, commercial and pay TV) DK 61% 100% CH NO PL DE 27% 31% CZ 61% SK AT 80% 66% HU SI 76% 100% IT 56% SE 47% MT 100% FI 79% EE 75% LV 33% LT 100% BY GR 50% RO 82% UA BG 50% CY 0% RU TR Source: Eurodata TV
8. Circulation of co-productions on TVOD 41% of all EU non-national films on TVOD were co-productions. TVOD - Share of co-productions and 100% national productions out of 33 810 EU non-national films* In % of total and units The large 100% national film share could be explained by several big budget theatrical successes produced in the UK and France. Coproductions 41% 14 002 100% national productions 59% 19 808 Co-productions were overrepresented among the film exports of almost every country relative to their average co-production volume. * Films available in 68 TVOD catalogues in October-November 2016 in 26 EU countries (EU minus Croatia and Romania) including pan- and national TVOD services. Source: OBS
8. Circulation of co-productions on TVOD TVOD Co-productions share of film exports by country - October- November 2016 IS Except in the case of the Netherlands, Latvia and Malta, co-productions represented more than 1/3 of EU film exports by number of titles for each country. IE 46% PT 80% ES 38% GB 39% PL DE 32% 54% 38% LU CZ 73% 43% SK AT 73% CH FR 45% NL 25% BE NO DK 45% IT 48% SE 40% 47% SI 38% MT 0% HU 43% FI 38% EE 39% LV 16% LT 64% GR 46% BY RO 70% UA BG 40% RU CY 81% TR Source: OBS
9. Circulation of co-productions: summary Co-productions circulated above average in all three windows analysed. Share of co-productions among EU exports within the EU by distribution window in % of total* 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 55% 51% 41% Average share of co-productions in film production 22% 10% 0 Cinema TV TVOD * For the scope of the sample see the corresponding slides for each of the windows. Sources: OBS, OBS Lumière Database and Eurodata TV
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