Small nations in a big market: the international reach of film from smaller European countries

Jones, Huw D. (2024) Small nations in a big market: the international reach of film from smaller European countries. 15th Annual International Small Cinemas Conference: Changing Policies, Transforming Audiences, and Work and Practices in-fux, Academy of Dramatic Art, Zagreb, Croatia. 05 - 07 Nov 2024.

Abstract

Films from smaller European countries often struggle to reach international audiences due to limited budgets and cultural barriers. From 2005 to 2015, films from smaller European countries made up only 5% of cinema admissions in Europe and less than 1% of admissions in the US, according to the Lumiere database. Yet some such films do reach large global audiences. Drawing on the MeCETES film database (which combines data from Lumiere and IMDb), this paper profiles the 30 most successful film exports from smaller European countries between 2005 and 2015, exploring both their on- and off-screen characteristics. The analysis identifies five main genres of successful film exports from smaller Europe countries:

1. Contemporary arthouse dramas – produced by auteur-led production companies in smaller western European countries with multiple partners including screen agencies, appealing to graduates through awards and authorial brand.

2. Family animations – produced by specialist Belgian or Finnish animations studios, attracting young children with Pixar-style animal adventures.

3. Historical dramas – often produced by auteurs in central and eastern European countries, appealing to graduates interested in learning about dark historical episodes.

4. Thrillers – often produced by Swedish company Yellowbird with support from public service broadcasters and screen agencies, resonating with young male graduates through dark, intriguing plots based on bestselling novels.

5. Comedies – produced by smaller Western European countries with support from commercial broadcasters, appealing to a wide audience with feel-good stories about overcoming obstacles.

The paper discusses what these findings mean for understanding how films from smaller countries represent global audiences and how they are represented through cinema.

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Contributors

Author: Huw D. Jones

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