I wasn't being derisive, gaz. Your point still stands. Note, for instance, the number of remarkable Hollywood films directed by European immigrants, and how many recent films are co-produced by two or more nations. But many have inclinations toward films from a particular country, and I find their explications interesting. Anyway, this board has actually generated discussion, which is not too common.
If we limit our discussion to the present, I'd have to say that the films that are moving the medium forward, and creating truly original art, are not coming out of Europe and the Americas.(There are exceptions).
Abbas Kiarostami from Iran and the taiwanese Hou Hsiao-hsien have created an "unfinished cinema"(a term used by A.K. in a statement he made at Cannes '95) that encourages one to "participate" in completing the film through interpretation of rather ambiguous images. Hou in particular likes to let the viewer decide where to direct his attention: no close-ups, no detail shots, no highlighting, the most subtle camera movement, etc. Other directors who attempt to shakes us out of nostalgia and comfort are: Taiwanese Edward Yang(A Brighter Summer Day, YiYi), Korean Jin-ho Hur(One Fine Spring Day,Christmas in August), Jia Zhangke (Unknown Pleasures,Platform), Stanley Kwan(Actress, Rouge)and Alexandr Sokurov, from Russia.      