Finnish film-makers go on strike

Film-maker Aki Kaurismäki is among the strikers

Finnish film-makers are taking strike action over what they claim is the government's "broken promise" over raising subsidies for movie production.

The protestors say they remain the same in the 2008 budget, despite a pledge to raise them by 1.2m euros (£809,000).

Finland's culture minister Stefan Wallin said a decision on funding has yet to be finalised.

The 23 producers have said they will not work on any films until the additional funding becomes available.

Mr Wallin said: "All the needs of culture and various fields of arts must be examined in a fair manner."

According to the Finnish Film Foundation, homegrown cinema accounted for a quarter of all films distributed in the country in 2006.

In 1996, the figure stood at just four per cent.

Independent and arthouse cinema is more dependent on state subsidies and will suffer without increased funding, the producers say.