ANCINE Unveils Strategic Regulatory Agenda for 2026-2027 Focusing on Streaming Oversight Artificial Intelligence and Sectoral Modernization

Brazil’s National Cinema Agency (ANCINE) has officially released its Regulatory Agenda for the 2026-2027 biennium, a comprehensive roadmap designed to steer the country’s audiovisual industry through a period of rapid technological evolution and market restructuring. The document, which serves as the agency’s primary planning instrument, outlines 23 strategic actions structured across three fundamental pillars: regulation, promotion (fomento), and oversight (fiscalização). This biennial plan is the result of an extensive democratic process, incorporating nearly 2,000 contributions from stakeholders during a public consultation period, reflecting a concerted effort to align government policy with the realities of a digital-first global entertainment economy.

The 2026-2027 agenda arrives at a critical juncture for the Brazilian audiovisual sector, which has been grappling with the disruptive influence of global streaming platforms, the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, and the need to modernize legacy funding mechanisms. By establishing these priorities two years in advance, ANCINE aims to provide legal certainty to investors and producers while preparing the regulatory groundwork for challenges that are expected to define the latter half of the decade.

The Evolution of Audiovisual Policy: A Chronology of the Regulatory Agenda

The implementation of a formal Regulatory Agenda has become a staple of ANCINE’s administrative transparency over the last decade. Historically, these agendas have shifted from focusing on the expansion of physical cinema theaters (the "Cinema Perto de Você" era) to the digital conversion of projection rooms, and more recently, to the survival of the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2022-2023 cycle, the agency focused heavily on the resumption of the Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA) investments after a period of administrative stagnation. The 2024-2025 agenda, currently in its implementation phase, has been characterized by the return of the "Cota de Tela" (screen quotas) for theatrical exhibitions and the preliminary debates regarding Video on Demand (VOD) taxation.

The newly published 2026-2027 agenda represents the next evolutionary step. It moves beyond mere recovery and toward systemic modernization. The timeline for these actions suggests that 2026 will be dedicated to data collection and the drafting of preliminary technical notes, while 2027 will see the implementation of new normative instructions and the enforcement of updated oversight protocols.

The Regulatory Pillar: Addressing VOD and Artificial Intelligence

The most significant portion of the new agenda is dedicated to regulation, with a specific focus on filling the "regulatory vacuum" currently occupied by global streaming giants. While Brazil has long regulated traditional Pay-TV through Law 12.485/2011, the VOD sector has operated with minimal direct oversight.

One of the primary actions outlined for the 2026-2027 period is the mandatory registration of data by VOD companies. This initiative is designed to create a transparent database regarding the catalogs available in Brazil, the volume of local content produced by these platforms, and their overall market share. This data collection is viewed by industry analysts as a prerequisite for the eventual implementation of a Condecine (Contribution to the Development of the National Film Industry) tax on streaming services, a topic currently being debated in the Brazilian Congress under Bill 2331/2022.

Furthermore, ANCINE has signaled its intent to tackle the complexities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The agenda includes a dedicated action to analyze the impact of AI on the audiovisual value chain. This involves assessing how AI-generated content affects copyright protections and the labor market for creative professionals. By including AI in its strategic planning, ANCINE joins a growing list of global regulators seeking to balance technological innovation with the protection of human intellectual property.

The regulatory block also includes a revision of norms for internet-based advertising and the electronic games market. With the recent passage of the "Marco Legal dos Games" (Legal Framework for Games) in Brazil, ANCINE is tasked with harmonizing its regulations to support a sector that has historically been peripheral to its cinema-centric mission but now represents a multi-billion dollar opportunity.

Promotion and Funding: Modernizing the FSA and FUNCINES

In the realm of "fomento" or promotion, the agenda focuses on simplifying the bureaucratic labyrinth that has often hindered the agility of Brazilian productions. The Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA), the primary source of public funding for the industry, will undergo a standardization process. ANCINE plans to establish general guidelines applicable to all FSA-funded projects, aiming to reduce the time between project selection and the actual release of funds.

A notable inclusion in the agenda is the modernization of the National Cinematographic Industry Financing Funds (FUNCINES). Created in the early 2000s, FUNCINES were intended to attract private investment into the film sector through tax incentives. However, they have seen limited use in recent years. The 2026-2027 plan seeks to update these funds to make them more attractive to modern venture capital and institutional investors, potentially diversifying the industry’s reliance on direct government grants.

The agency also plans to finally regulate the "Programas Especiais de Fomento" (Special Promotion Programs). Although these programs have been part of Brazilian law since 2006, they have lacked the specific regulatory framework necessary for their implementation. Their activation could open new channels for regional production and the internationalization of Brazilian content.

Crucially, the agenda addresses the sensitive issue of intellectual property (IP) rights for works produced with public money. The proposed actions will seek to define a more equitable distribution of rights between producers and the state, ensuring that the public investment generates long-term returns for the national industry while allowing producers to remain competitive in international co-productions.

Oversight and Market Equilibrium: Anti-Piracy and Competition

The third pillar of the agenda, oversight, focuses on maintaining a level playing field and protecting the economic integrity of the market. ANCINE intends to expand its oversight beyond traditional production companies to include various economic agents across the audiovisual chain. This is intended to reduce market asymmetries and prevent anti-competitive behavior, such as vertical integration practices that might disadvantage independent creators.

Piracy remains a top priority. The 2026-2027 agenda proposes the analysis of new technological innovations that facilitate the illegal distribution of content. Brazil has been a leader in "Operation 404," a multi-jurisdictional effort to take down pirate streaming sites and IPTV services. ANCINE’s new agenda suggests a shift toward more proactive, technology-driven enforcement to stay ahead of sophisticated piracy networks.

Additionally, the agency will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Cota de Tela" (screen quota). With the recent renewal of the quota law until 2033, ANCINE is tasked with ensuring that theaters comply with the minimum requirements for screening Brazilian films. The oversight plan for the next biennium will likely include more robust digital monitoring tools to track theater programming in real-time.

Industry Reactions and Economic Implications

The announcement has been met with a mixture of cautious optimism and calls for further clarity from industry associations. Organizations such as BRAVI (Brasil Audiovisual Independente) have long advocated for the regulation of VOD to ensure that a portion of streaming revenue is reinvested into local production. The inclusion of VOD data registration in the 2026-2027 agenda is seen as a victory for those seeking to protect "national sovereignty" in the digital space.

From an economic perspective, the stakes are high. The audiovisual sector in Brazil contributes approximately 0.6% to the national GDP, generating over R$ 25 billion annually and providing direct and indirect employment to more than 300,000 people. Analysts suggest that a well-regulated VOD and gaming market could see these numbers double within the next decade.

However, some representatives from the tech sector have expressed concerns regarding the "dispersion of norms." They argue that over-regulation could stifle innovation or lead to increased subscription costs for consumers. ANCINE’s commitment in the agenda to "simplify bureaucratic processes and avoid regulatory dispersion" is a direct response to these concerns, signaling a desire for a "light-touch" approach where possible.

Conclusion: A Vision for a Digital Future

The ANCINE Regulatory Agenda for 2026-2027 is more than a list of administrative tasks; it is a strategic declaration of intent. By prioritizing streaming oversight, AI analysis, and the modernization of funding, Brazil is attempting to position itself as a proactive player in the global creative economy rather than a passive consumer of foreign technology and content.

As the agency moves toward the implementation phase, the success of this agenda will depend on its ability to maintain a dialogue with both the traditional film industry and the emerging digital giants. For the thousands of producers, directors, and technicians who make up the Brazilian audiovisual workforce, the next two years will be defined by how these 23 actions translate from a policy document into the practical realities of the marketplace. The goal is clear: to ensure that Brazilian stories continue to find their place on screens of all sizes, backed by a regulatory framework that is as dynamic as the industry it governs.