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Netherlands Film Fund chief reveals first measures to protect Dutch industry

Bero Beyer, the recently installed CEO of the Netherlands Film Fund, has revealed the measures the Fund is planning to put in place to protect the Dutch film industry as the coronavirus crisis continues.

A number of both short and longer term measures are being discussed. These include bridge financing for extra costs for films whose release has been postponed and a relaxation of the usual rules and obligations around subsidy periods and repayment schedules.

“Things change on a daily basis (but) what we are working on is a set of measures which will make it possible to be more than lenient towards productions we have already supported and maybe even given them additional support in terms of cash flow or bridge financing so they can cover the harshest costs of having to postpone,” said Beyer.

The intervention from the Fund comes in the wake of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s speech to the nation on Monday (March 18) which included assurances that the government would “do the utmost possible” to safeguard Dutch commerce and culture.

Beyer, who previously headed up the International Film Festival Rotterdam before taking up his new job at the Fund at the beginning of March, said that the initial measures amounted to “triage.”

“We have to decide where to give preference first. Hopefully, later on, we will find additional funds.”

Click for full article on Screendaily.com

Image: IFFR