The rules of submitting applications to take part in the new cinematographic project launched by the National Cinematography Center (NCC), which is financed with public funds, are not clear, consider filmmakers who assert that last year the contest was held with multiple violations. Only two weeks before the contest, there were founded film studios that got a sufficient score for receiving financing from the NCC.
“When a cinematographic contest is held improperly, cinematography cannot work properly as an industry. Last year we witnessed mistakes and want the contest this year to be staged in accordance with the law,” film director Igor Cobileanski stated in a news conference at IPN.
“Moldova Film” director general Alexandru Vasilachi said the project he submitted to the contest last year was chosen for being financed on condition that the money was used by the end of 2017. This was impossible as the specified filming period was the year 2018. Ultimately, the NCC refused to sign a contract with the studio.
Producer Sergiu Prodan said that when he formed part of the working group for drafting the cinematography law, he insisted that a cinematography fund should exist as the budget funds are provided in other conditions than the cinematography law specifies. Film productions are often moved from one year to another, while budget financing is not.
YOUBESC Film producer Sergiu Cumatrenco underlined the necessity of improving the regulations of the contest announced by the National Cinematography Center. Giving as example the project submitted last year, he enumerated a series of violations committed by the assessment commission.
The filmmakers requested the competent institutions, including the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, to examine the situation and take attitude and called on the director of the National Cinematography Center to tender his resignation. Last December, a number of film directors and producers accused Valeriu Jereghi of abuse and serious violations in the management of the NCC.
