Brasília, 4/29/2004 (Agência Brasil) - There are certainly more Brazilian films in the cinemas nowadays, but growth in the sector goes beyond the sliver screen to the broader economy. More films means more money and that means more jobs. According to the Ministry of Culture, which has an Audiovisual Secretariat that oversees the sector, official numbers show that in 2000 there were 23 films, made with some type of government support incentives, which created 986 jobs. In 2001, a total of 67 films created 2,000 jobs. It is expected that by the year 2005 the sector will be employing 5,000 people and another 5,000 indirectly.

The ministry says it wants to support the production of 40 to 45 films this year, 200 to 300 short films and as many as 600 video productions.

The head of the Audiovisual Secretariat, Orlando Senna, says that his budget rose 70% this year, compared to last year. "But we started out with so little money that the increase is really not as big as it looks. We still need more resources," he says.

As for the box office, that is doing very well. In 2002, total attendance at Brazilian films reached 7 million. In 2002, it jumped to 22 million. Senna says the numbers show that there has been a qualitative improvement in Brazilian films and their distribution. As for distribution, suffice it to say that for the first time ever the ministry and Petrobras joined forces in a call for tender offers for distribution of 29 Brazilian films this year. The distribution package is worth US$1.6 million (R$4.8 million).

"The Lula administration is doing something new in this sector. They are providing support for the distribution and exhibition of Brazilian films. Historically, film production got all the attention and the government forgot about the other side of the process," explained Senna.

Translator: Allen Bennett