Statistics released by the European Audiovisual Observatory as part of their Focus 2012 report reveal that, despite the struggles faced by many national economies, the film industry is continuing to grow. In the most successful countries, box office takings are up by an average of 9%. But when it comes to production, the UK is really struggling.
The British film industry has been having problems since the economic crash of 2008 but took a dramatic turn for the worse over the past year, with the number of new films released down by almost 28%. Some of that can be accounted for the the focus on a few big projects, with Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 topping the worldwide box office and making over $1bn. Although admissions to UK cinemas grew only very slightly over the past year, takings were up significantly due to an increase in average ticket prices.
With four of the top five of the year's hits, it's no surprise that the US tops the charts in most categories, but it's facing increasingly stiff competition from India and China. India now produces by far the highest number of films, with 1,274 releases in 2010, and it also has the highest number of box office admissuions, with a rapidly expanding network of cinemas across the country. This doesn't translate into financial dominance because Indian ticket prices are low but those working in the industry are highly optimistic about its future. Chinese cinema, meanwhile, is enjoying a boom as Chinese film fans pack out venues showing 3D movies, of which the country is producing an increasing number of its own.
Spare a thought for the little guys. This year, Mongolia held its first ever screening at Cannes. The international support shown for Bogd Khan inspired considerable national pride but Mongolian cineastes are still trying to get their countrymen back into the cinema-going habit. Their industry collapsed after the switch from state funding to a capitalist model in 1990 and it is only now beginning to recover. Just now, Mongolia would be happy to have one successful film a year.
