The Tidö parties presented a proposal for a new film policy on Monday that includes no streaming tax or extra funding. Several proposals from the film inquiry are postponed and the number of film policy goals is reduced from seven to three.
Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand (M) justified the decision by saying a streaming tax would hit consumers and would not increase interest in Swedish film production.
Industry representatives directed sharp criticism at the proposal. Eva Hamilton, chair of Film & TV-producenterna, called it one of the most substance-free bills in Swedish history and said Sweden is now cemented at the bottom in Europe regarding support per capita.
Anna Croneman, CEO of the Swedish Film Institute, described the proposition as a betrayal of filmmakers and audiences. Amanda Lind (MP) called it a fiasco and called for reduced cinema VAT, a streaming tax and a stably funded film fund.
The government instead wants to prioritize a broad high-quality film offering, a large national and international audience and preservation of the film heritage. Issues around illegal IPTV will be investigated further.
