Although Tallinn has won the right to host the European Film Academy awards gala in 2010, it has not yet secured funding for the event.
It is planned to hold the awards ceremony of the European Film Academy at the end of 2010 at the Solaris Centre in Tallinn.
Initially, it was agreed to split the event's 40 million kroon budget so that the European Film Academy contributes 20 million and both the Estonian state and City of Tallinn give 10 million kroons to the event, reports ERR.
Now, however, the state and the city have cut their funding promise to 7 million kroons each. According to Tiina Lokk, member of EFA 2010 organizing committee, it will not be enough.
This is below the critical budget for ensuring an event with normal quality. To do it badly is even worse than to withdraw us from the organization," she said. Lokk said that if no consensus on funding is found, Tallinn should withdraw from hosting it.
This would be a huge blow to the image of Estonia and Tallinn. The world would look and think that poor Estonia did not have the money to organize the event. "It will show our short-sightedness and stupidity" she said.
The event's chief producer Peeter Rebane is more optimistic and assures that the funding will be in place. "The City is prepared to invest 10 million kroons, but in my opinion the ministry of culture has cut its funding commitment. There was an agreement that both parties will contribute 50:50. I am sure that the ministry of culture will get involved in the event and understand that it is a very important one for Estonia."
However, minister of culture Laine Jänes claims that the initial agreement for state funding was 7 million kroons. She says that also this is an oral promise and no written agreements have been signed so far with the organizers.
The annual awards gala is held in Berlin every other year and in other cities in between. Essen in western Germany is hosting the event this year instead of Berlin by way of exception.
The team of the non-profit organisation EFA 2010 organising the Tallinn gala includes beside Peeter Rebane and Tiina Lokk, Kristo Tohver, and television producer Tarmo Krimm.
Tallinn was awarded the right to host the 2010 EFA awards gala at the 20th gala held in Berlin in December 2007. In addition to the famous film stars, EFA members and around 300 journalists the event will attract, the awards ceremony will be broadcast from the Estonian capital directly to the homes of viewers in more than 50 countries.
The European Film Academy was founded in 1989 to promote Europe's cinema art. Its first president was the Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.
Toomas Hõbemägi
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