02/03/2005

While the European Parliament and Council are discussing the future of the MEDIA Programme (2007-2013), the European Union authorities in Luxemburg were organising this week-end (27th-1st March) a seminar entitled ‘Creativity and Access to the Market : the role of formation, development, and marketing in the distribution of European cinema’. Three groups of experts and professionals debated the above-mentioned issues.

In a speech she delivered on the 28th of February, Member of Commission Viviane Reding — now also in charge of the Section Information and Media — pointed out that since the MEDIA Programme has been very successful, it should keep ‘supporting the films at the beginning of the creation process, from production to formation and development, and at the end, from distribution to promotion.’

This does not mean a few changes cannot be arranged for 2007. The MEDIA Programme new generation, currently discussed, will have a budget of over 1 billion euros. It will take into account the technical and economic changes in process, especially digital technology, ‘a key element for Europe to stay competitive and develop the audiovisual industry,’ says Vivian Reding. And of course, MEDIA still aims at easing access to funding from small and middle-sized production and distribution companies. Mrs Reding finally insisted on how important it is for countries where the cinema industry is not so strong to access the European market : ‘This is more than ever a necessary commitment, now than the European Union is larger. We envisage, for instance, to raise not by 60% but by 75% our contribution to courses for future directors in all our countries.’
A report will soon publish the conclusions and recommendations drawn at this seminar.