The History of Cinema: 1950

– The Forum Theatre opens in Vienna. [ADD]

 – Professional associations of distributors and exhibitors agree on conditions of film supply. [ADD]

– V Korsh-Sablin and Alexander Feinzimmer’s Konstantin Zaslonov is awarded the State Prize of the USSR. [ADD]

Boris Borozanov’s Kalin orelat, the first feature film made in Bulgaria since the nationalisation of the industry by the communist government, is released.   Ivan Dimov stars in the title role. [ADD]

– Film Commissioner McLean’s contract is not renewed after he refuses to sack 36 staff of the National Film Board. [ADD]

The Central Office of Cinematographic Control, of which Mao Tse-Tung's wife Jian Quing is a member, is set up to advise and control the film industry in China as part of the Ministry of Culture. [ADD]

The Performance Art Institution of the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture – later to be known as the Beijing Film Academy - is established.   38 students enrol in its first year. [ADD]

– Almost all American films are banned from China following the cultural revolution.   Films from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe fill the void. [ADD]

– Camilo Correa forms Procinal in Antioquia, as a share-holders society. [ADD]

– George Fannoy establishes Belgavox in Brussels, Belgium, to make documentaries and news items in the Congo. [ADD]

Jiri Weiss’ Posledni vystrel (The Last Shot), featuring a cast of non-professional actors, is released. [ADD]

Jon Iversen and Alice O’Fredericks’ adaptation of Morten Korch’s De røde heste (The Red Horses) is released.   It becomes Denmark’s best-selling movie with ticket sales of 2.4 million.  [ADD]

El Salvador

– The  Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP) funds a "cine de guerra salvadoreño" to produce films honouring military exploits against rebel groups. [ADD]

– Organised by Sean Graham, a student of John Grierson, the Gold Coast (Ghana) Film Unit becomes independent.   The Unit makes co-productions with independent British interest groups and with documentary makers such as Grierson. [ADD]

– Giorgos Tzavellas’ The Drunkard (O Methystakas) sells 305,000 tickets in Athens, a box-office record that isn’t beaten until 1963. [ADD]