21/05/2003 - "Triplicate the promotion of co-productions to really launch European cinema," suggests the President of the Producers' Club

A meeting on the Croisette with Jean Cazès, the president of the European Producers’ Club: 52 independent companies in 18 countries. An expert speaks about co-production in Europe.

Cineuropa: What’s your take on the increase in European co-productions?
Jean Cazès: “European producers experienced a big crisis in pre-financing for the market. Fortunately this was balanced out by an increase in investments under the tax shelter system. It is almost impossible today to make a film in Europe without it’s being a co-production.”

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Isn’t there a danger of numerous countries competing to attract the same co-production?
“Tax shelters or regional subvention are often linked to in-place spending and that is what makes putting together a co-production so difficult. Making a film becomes more of a financial issue that an artistic one. But the EU members states and countries of Europe are fortunately open to the artistic point of view and finance foreign films.”

What are the barriers to European co-productions really taking off?
“There aren’t many, only the ridiculous restrictions of the German tax shelter system that hinder European co-productions, and the possibility that the UK’s sale and lease-back scheme may not be renewed in 18 months time.
On the industrial side, the biggest brake is the failure of European films to make inroads into non-domestic markets. This includes the fact that most of the stars, directors and ideas are largely unknown outside of their respective countries of origin. We really need to promote popular and quality European titles with vigour, select a reasonable number of titles and either double or triple their promotional campaigns. There will be no short-term gains but plenty of long-term ones because we will have created a real European audience.”