Reeling from its worst economic crisis ever, Argentina has moved to slash ticket prices to local films once again.

Last November, admissions leapt 1,000 % compared with the previous week as a result of a two-day national campaign. Regular ticket prices of up to $8 were cut to $2 with the most popular films led by Argentine Foreign Oscar contender El Hijo De La Novia, Dejala Correr, La Fuga and Nueve Reinas.

Disney followed suit in late November to promote the Argentine premiere of Monsters Inc. which screened in up to 180 theatres.

Between December 13 and 31, reduced prices to select Argentine films resulted in a record 6,676 admissions in the three-screen multiplex, the Complejo Tita Merello.

A new campaign dubbed Vamos Al Tita has extended the promotion through January and February. The Tita Merello plex reported a 9.28% increase in admissions in 2001 compared with the previous year.

Meanwhile state-backed Argentine film institute INCAA, continues without a president, after Jose Miguel Onaindia resigned in December. Among various rumoured replacements, Peronist filmmaker Leonardo Favio has been tipped as his successor.