Not enough money but boundless energy
On February 10 and 11, in an event parallel to the Berlinale, the first conference of the triennial Euromed Audiovisual programme of the European Commission took place.
Over a hundred professionals attended the presentations of various projects supported by the programme, followed by lively debates.
Discussions on the entire audiovisual sector, from training to promotion, brought out highly heterogeneous audiovisual landscapes now united under a new initiative, whose financial resources are thin on the ground and period of action still in need of definition.
Insisting upon the importance of development, Nabil Ayouch, the Moroccan director of the hit film Ali Zaoua and founder of the MEDA Film Development programme, pointed out a truth that transcends the banks of the Mediterranean.
Production reflects the most significant disparities between the nations of the southern Mediterranean. Countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Israel and Turkey produce a significant number of domestic films with a considerable local market share. However, the efforts of countries such as Jordan, for example, are more focused on developing their territories as location spots for foreign productions, thereby taking part in today’s globalised competition.
Up against often omnipresent political forces, accounts by Nour-Eddine Saïl, director of the Centre of Moroccan Cinema (CCM), and Katriel Schory, director of the Israel Film Fund, won over the public. Both stressed the effectiveness of a potential administrative structure for the audiovisual sector that could reach decisions independently.
But with money very much of at the centre of preoccupations of all industry professionals, the best of intentions may never see the light of day. Asking an EU funding body to produce films in the Southern Mediterranean remains hypothetical, as Euromed Audiovisual II (like the MEDIA Programme) intervenes in all areas except production.
Similarly, the plan to make the Council of Europe’s Eurimages fund accessible to southern countries would incense industry professionals and eliminate their power for action.
Nevertheless, despite a lack of resources, and with the promotion of Euro-Mediterranean films and public education resembling Sisyphean tasks, the incredible energy of two Algerians – director Tariq Téguia (Roma Rather Than You) and distributor Mohammed Latrèche – reminded all that what mattered the most was action.
(Translated from French)
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