As a result of the changes in the rules on grants for cultural creation, the subsidies to film scripts in 2021 do not include the production of series and documentary scripts. A number of citizens have been dissatisfied and concerned about the change, and have started a collection of signatures to ask the Basque Government to reintroduce these categories into the subsidies granted to them.

The signatories subscribe to the letter of Aitziber Atorrasagasti Calcedo, Director of Culture Promotion of the Basque Government. In the letter, Atorrasagasti was asked to repeal the modification of the regulations that affected the categories of documentaries and series; the extension of the valuation commission if necessary; and the work to further expand the budgets for cultural creation in the CAPV.

Regarding the first requirement, the letter states that “it is essential to continue protecting both genders from the writing stage, as they contribute to enriching the culture and economy of the community in which they are inserted”. With regard to the second requirement, it is argued that the high number of applications for aid cannot be a reason for excluding both categories, and that the high number of applications would have to be met with their extension in the valuation committee. What is more, they have stressed that the high number of demands can be seen as a symptom of the lack of economic resources in the audiovisual sector.

“The scripts of these professionals contribute to increase the cultural heritage in Basque and Spanish. In addition, in 2021, because of the pandemic, it is more necessary than ever to support and promote a gender traditionally punished, as is the case with the documentary,” they stressed to warn of the importance of subsidizing the categories of series and documentaries.