Film

While shaping and implementing the national cultural policy in the field of cinema, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania performs the following functions laid down in the Republic of Lithuania Law on Cinema (new version of the Law as of 01.05.2012)

1. forms national film policy and prepares drafts of laws and other legal acts in the field of cinema;
2. analyses the trends of cinema development in the Republic of Lithuania and in foreign countries, initiates and drafts strategic planning documents in the field of cinema (concepts, strategies, programmes), and carries out the monitoring of implementation of these documents;
3. upon the assignment of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or the Prime Minister, represents the Republic of Lithuania in foreign countries or international organisations; within its competence and in accordance with the established procedure maintains contacts with respective foreign institutions and international organisations and, in accordance with the procedure provided for by the Republic of Lithuania Law on International Treaties, concludes and implements the international treaties;
4. coordinates and controls the activities of the Lithuanian Film Centre under the Ministry of Culture.

Film Policy Council

The Film Policy Council, which follows the Regulations of the Film Policy Council approved by Order No. ĮV-823 of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania as of 29 November 2013, is a collegiate and advisory institution under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, functioning on a voluntary basis and dealing with the issues of the Lithuanian film policy. Its goal is to address the key film policy issues and provide the Minister of Culture with proposals and conclusions concerning the strategic planning and measures of strengthening the field of cinema, development programmes and their aims and reached outcomes, state funding, preservation of heritage, the drafting and/or improvement of legal acts governing the field of cinema, as well as other film related issues pointed out by the Minister of Culture.

The Lithuanian Film Centre is a state institution established in 2012 under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania (Resolution No. 427 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania as of 18 April 2012).

The principal activity goals of the Centre are to promote long-term development and competitiveness of Lithuanian cinema and participate in the formation of efficient national film policy.

The Lithuanian Film Centre coordinates national film production, administers state funds for the development of cinema field: organises film project tenders for state funding, consults applicants, administers partial funding of production and promotion, exercises control over the use and reporting of state funding, represents Lithuania in foreign and international organisations, and organises the work of the Film Council.

The Lithuanian Film Centre takes care of the promotion of cinema culture and purposeful cinema dissemination in the country and abroad, preservation of the Lithuanian film heritage, is responsible for Lithuanian film marketing, promotion of investments and attraction of the private capital, integration of new technologies in the promotion and screening of films, professional training of film creators, raising public awareness, and creation of the Lithuanian film database.

The Centre also performs other functions provided for by the Regulations of the Lithuanian Film Centre (approved by Order No. ĮV-320 of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania as of 8 May 2012).

Relevant functions of the Lithuanian Film Centre:

1. Preparation and financing of film projects
2. Film registration in the Film Registry
3. Film indexation

Lithuania’s international cooperation in the field of cinema

As of 2003, Lithuania has been participating in the European Union MEDIA Programme for the support of the audiovisual sector. The MEDIA sub-programme is represented in Lithuania by the MEDIA Desk Lithuania, a structural unit of the Lithuanian Film Centre. Its main aim is to provide information to the Lithuanian audiovisual industry on the EU support programmes, give advice on the issues of film promotion, participation in training, submission of project applications, and promote partnership with programme participants and third parties.

As of 2007, Lithuania has been a member of Eurimages, the Council of Europe’s Film Support Fund, which supports co-production and distribution of creative cinematographic and audiovisual works. The Fund’s budget is comprised of contributions from 36 member states, which are allocated for the support of joint film projects of these countries. The Fund administers four film support programmes, and Lithuanian projects are eligible for funding in two of them: support for co-production and support for distribution.