Helsinki A Finnish government committee has called for a doubling of state subsidy for feature film production in order to make "more and better films".

It also suggests that VAT on cinema tickets be reduced from 12% to 6% and the difference spent on production, distribution and exhibition.

The committee, headed by Finnish Film Foundation md, Jouni Mykkänen, was set up by the ministry of culture to investigate the state of the industry which had an all-time low output of eight features in 1995.

With Aki Kaurismäki's Drifting Clouds selected for the competition at Cannes this year and a record number of applications for production support, Mykkänen found little lack of talent, but considerable shortage of money.

Backed by the Finnish filmmakers' associations, the committee wants state allocation for the industry increased by FIM45 (US$9.7) million by 2000.

Conditions for film production companies must be improved through a market programme implemented by the film foundation and the ministry of trade and industry.

Jørn Rossing Jensen

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