brazilian President Luiz inácio Lula da silva’s governance formalized a decree on December 24th mandating minimum annual screen time for domestic films, a policy shift aimed at bolstering the country’s film industry amidst growing competition from international productions adn streaming platforms. The new regulations will require cinemas to dedicate a yet-to-be-determined number of days each year to Brazilian films, a move mirroring similar efforts in countries like France and Canada to protect local culture and artistic output. Enforced by the Brazilian National Cinema Agency (Ancine),the quota system is expected to take effect in 2026,allowing cinemas time to adjust to the new requirements.
Brazilian cinemas will soon be required to dedicate a minimum number of days each year to showcasing domestic films, a move intended to boost the local film industry and prevent an over-reliance on a limited selection of national productions. The new regulations, formalized by a recent decree, aim to ensure both the presence of Brazilian cinema and a wider diversity of titles available to audiences.
The quota system will mandate the exhibition of Brazilian films for a specific number of days annually, with requirements adjusted based on the size of the cinema and the number of screens it operates. This is a common practice globally, designed to support local filmmaking and cultural representation.
The Brazilian National Cinema Agency (Ancine) will be responsible for overseeing compliance with the new rules, establishing the specific technical parameters for meeting the screen quota, and implementing penalties for non-compliance. Films that have received significant awards or demonstrated strong box office performance will be eligible for differentiated exhibition criteria, as determined by Ancine. The decree goes into effect on December 24, but the requirements will not be applied until 2026.
The move comes as the Brazilian film industry continues to gain international recognition, and as streaming services reshape the landscape of film distribution. The decree outlines that the regulations are designed to guarantee not only the presence of Brazilian films, but also the diversity of titles, avoiding a concentration of the national program in a restricted number of productions. The regulations also address criteria for counting screenings and ensuring the rotation of films shown in theaters.
