Total spend by European funds grew signigicantly between 2004 and 2009, but began to stagnate in the wake of the economic crisis.

European public funding bodies invested 2.1bn euros in the film and television sectors in 2009, according to a report published by the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasborg.

The number of funds in Europe grew from 208 in 2004 to 280 in 2009 whilst total spend by these funds grew almost without interruption from 1998 onwards but stagnated in 2009, as a result of the global economic crisis.

Whilst the upward trend looks to have continued in countries such as Italy and Poland, the reverse is true in the UK as a result of the consolidation of regional funds into Creative England.

Over two-thirds of all spending in 2009 went to production, with the amount invested in promotion of film and TV on the rise.

The report - Public Funding for Film and Audiovisual Works in Europe -  focused on film funds in 37 European countries for the period 2005 to 2009.

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