Call for Papers – Thematic Dossier: Brazilian Audiovisual and Public Policies

2025-05-23

Brazilian Audiovisual and Public Policies

As Jean-Claude Bernardet pointed out in the classic “Cinema brasileiro: propostas para uma história (2009)”, the market occupied by foreign products is one of the defining characteristics of the History of Brazilian film production, as is the role of the State in attempting to create space for national cinema. In the 21st century, this situation continues to repeat itself, including with regard to the State’s recurring timidity, historically bound to an eminently cultural perspective on cinema and often inattentive to economic and market-related issues (Autran, 2013).

This situation generates imbalances across several links in the Brazilian audiovisual production chain, creating persistent market failures — for example, the lack of specific regulatory mechanisms concerning the relationship between broadcast television and streaming platforms with Brazil’s independent national production. On the other hand, the involvement of organized civil society representatives in the process of formulating cultural plans and public policies has, over the years, fostered a more mature debate. This process led to the creation of Ancine (National Film Agency) in 2001, the adoption of effective legislation for the pay-TV sector through Law No. 12.485/11, and the incorporation of diversity as a guiding principle across various audiovisual policies. These developments have resulted in public calls for projects that address issues of gender, race, and regional representation.

This brief overview clearly demonstrates the continuing role of the State as a central agent in the Brazilian audiovisual field — whether through its active presence or notable absence — as evidenced by the ongoing heated debate surrounding the activities of foreign streaming companies in the national market. Despite some efforts made by Ancine (Ladeira; De Marchi, 2020), these companies remain — up to the present — unregulated by specific State policies. Their operations have had detrimental effects on domestic production: the failure to contribute with taxes related to the development of the national industry, the limited presence and prominence of Brazilian titles in streaming catalogs, predatory production practices with local companies, and the lack of reliable information provided to public agencies.

There is a broad consensus in the literature — as well as among academic and political debate circles — that public policy must be evidence-based, relying on the systematic verification of its assumptions, scope, and results (Arretche, 2003; Costa; Castanhar, 2003). It is with this in mind — seeking to systematize and evaluate the processes of public policy formulation, implementation, and impact on the audiovisual sector — that we launch this special dossier, encouraging researchers to explore the topic.

Among other possible themes, we suggest the following for this call for papers:

  • Historical processes of audiovisual sector regulation and policymaking in Brazil;
  • International experiences of exhibition window regulation (cinema, broadcast TV, pay TV, and streaming services);
  • The history of lobbying efforts by foreign audiovisual companies against protectionist legislation in Brazil;
  • Audiovisual consumption in Brazil;
  • Impacts of national, local, or regional audiovisual public policies;
  • Public policies developed by states and municipalities;
  • Labor relations in contemporary audiovisual activities;
  • The internationalization of Brazilian production and its relationship with public policies.

Bibliographical references

 

ARRETCHE, Marta. Dossiê agenda de pesquisa em políticas públicas. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Sociais, São Paulo, v. 18, n. 51, p. 7-9, fev. 2003

AUTRAN, Arthur. O pensamento industrial cinematográfico brasileiro. São Paulo: Hucitec, 2013.

BERNARDET, Jean-Claude. Cinema brasileiro: propostas para uma história. 2 ed. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2009.

COSTA, Frederico Lustosa da; CASTANHAR, José Cezar. Avaliação de programas públicos: desafios conceituais e metodológicos. Revista de Administração Pública, Rio de Janeiro, v. 37, n. 5, p. 962-969, set./out. 2003.

LADEIRA, João Martins; DE MARCHI, Leonardo. Rede de imbróglios: a regulação do streaming no Brasil e suas ambiguidades. Contracampo, Niterói, v. 38, n. 3, p. 68-79, dez. 2019 – mar. 2020.