Guilds question the Tudela Law: “The door opens for a very serious deterioration of Peruvian cinema”

Although the project for a new film law, promoted by congresswoman Adriana Tudelahas received a majority rejection by the film industry in Peru – filmmakers such as Luis Llosa, Francisco Lombardi, Rossana Díaz Costa, Tito Catacora, among others have spoken out against it – last Tuesday, June 11, it was debated, voted on and approved in the plenary session of Parliament, with surprising speed.

For Gabriel Quispe, spokesperson for the collective In Defense of Peruvian Cinema, there are two especially critical points in this law that seems to be on its way to being enacted: The first is a possible censorship under subjective and questionable criteria.. “[La ley] points out that those projects that attack issues such as the legal order or national security will not be able to participate, they would be disqualified without going to the jury,” explains the specialist in dialogue with El Comercio.

Secondly, Quispe regrets that the project seeks to reduce resources and incentives, particularly for films made in regions other than Lima. “Except for the first works, the project stipulates that projects can only receive 70% of the budget. In other words, all regional filmmakers will have to look for the other 30% elsewhere, most likely from foreign funds,” warns the film critic and writer.

Quispe adds one more concern to the topic, around the debate on an old issue in our country: the creation of a Film Commission (or Film Commission, support and management office for international audiovisual production in Peru). “What is sought is for Prom Perú to assume the management of this institution, but Throughout the world, a Film Commission is an entity specialized in cinematographic matters.. Prom Perú may know many things related to tourism, and can certainly be an ally, but “He does not have the skills and abilities for this topic.”he points out.

DEFENSE AND REACTIONS

After the approval of the law in plenary, Congresswoman Adriana Tudela insisted that her project is “unquestionably beneficial for the industry”. Regarding criticism of the budget cut for regional films, the parliamentarian said that they would actually receive “more budget than she received before.”

Regarding the accusation of the alleged censorship mechanism, Tudela Gutiérrez said that in reality it is an “extremely reasonable and common sense” clause. “If someone wants to make a film project, film or short that goes against the rule of law or that has a revolutionary motive, they are completely free to do so, but with private funds and not with funds from all taxpayers,” declared on Canal N.

For her part, the Minister of Culture, Leslie Urteaga, He announced that his portfolio will observe the law approved by Congress. “We are going to observe the rule because it has not included the proposals and considerations that were sent at the time from the Ministry of Culture, from the technical side, above all,” he said.

However, this promise has not generated tranquility in the group In defense of Peruvian cinema. “I believe that this announcement is completely false,” says Gabriel Quispe. “Minister Urteaga has wasted several months in which she has been able to make a timely statement so that the position of the Ministry of Culture is clearly sent to the two commissions.” [Economía y Cultura] congressional”. In this sense, the specialist fears that, despite the observance of the law by the Executive, This is eventually approved in the Plenary upon insistence.

Regarding the possible short-term consequences that the law could have, Quispe believes that national productions could be seriously reduced in quality and quantity. “A door is opening for a very serious deterioration of Peruvian cinema”he concludes.