RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Film and TV leaders will launch the Audiovisual Industry and Commerce Federation (FICA) on Oct. 6 during RioMarket, the business section of the Rio International Film Fest, said Walkiria Barbosa, Rio Fest’s Executive Director and of Int’l Marketing and President of FICA.
FICA’s main aim is to advance the consolidation of a state policy for Brazil’s audiovisual sector, planned transversally and inspired by successful international models, such as that of South Korea.
Last year, the group of sector leaders who are now launching FICA presented to Brazil’s Development, Industry, Commerce and Service Ministry (MIDC) a plan for the sustainable development of the country’s film and TV sector. MIDC then incorporated it into the New Industry Brazil (NIB), the broad development plan for the country of President Lula da Silva’s administration.
NIB’s audiovisual task force has already held three meetings and approved a series of proposals that will be presented on Oct. 6 in RioMarket, along with the launching of FICA.
“The proposals include new credit lines for the sector, policies to boost the games industry and exports of Brazilian films and TVs shows, measures against piracy, incentives for innovation and the creation of a sector governance, among others,” Barbosa told Variety.
On the Oct. 6 session, she added, MPA will launch Oxford Economics’ study “A contribuição econômica da indústria audiovisual no Brasil em 2024” (The economic contribution of the audiovisual industry in Brazil in 2024), which has extensive data about the local film and TV industry.
Barbosa said South Korea is the inspiration of FICA’s proposals for the development of Brazil’s soft power.
“Within a few decades, South Korea evolved from an unknown country to a film, series and music super power. When you promote the culture of a country worldwide, you also promote their products, from Samsung TV sets to Hyundai cars,” she stressed.
U.K. consultant Amanda Groom, who worked for South Korean government agencies and helped to implement the successful policies that led to the rise of the Asian country’s film and TV industry, will attend the FICA launching session and will deliver a lecture at RioMarket on Oct. 7.
Barbosa said she would like to have eventually the contribution of Groom in Brazil’s effort to develop its industry, tapping on her experience in South Korea. Groom is founder and Managing Director of The Bridge.
FICA’s board of directors counts on representatives of all film and TV sub-sectors, including Marcos Barros, CEO of leading exhibitor Cinesystem and president of the Brazilian Association of Multiplex Exhibitors (Abraplex); Marcos Attberg, CEO of production company lndiana; Fábio Lima, CEO of indie specialty channel network Sofa; Leonardo Edde, President Director of Rio’s film company RioFilme; and Marcio Fraccaroli, general director of distributor and production company Paris Filmes.