Leading European film and audiovisual organisations have issued a joint statement to call for the strengthening of the Creative Europe Media programme amid fears for its future.
The letter has been signed by 16 organisations representing film and TV directors, producers, training and networking organisations, markets and festivals, sales agents, publishers and distributors of films, and cinema operators.
It has been published at a time of growing concern about the future shape of the Media programme, and ahead of a meeting of European culture ministers next week.
The European Commission is currently consulting on financing priorities for its next multiannual financial framework – the EU’s long-term budget.
Talks on the budget, which will run from 2028 to 2034, are heating up, with calls to spend more money on defense and to bolster the bloc’s waning competitiveness.
There are concerns that the Creative Europe programme may no longer be a standalone programme in the next budget, but instead subsumed into a broader programme related to citizenship and democracy or one focused on competitiveness.
“Strengthening Media for a future-proof strong, vibrant and independent European film and audiovisual sector is only possible by maintaining it as a distinct programme,” said the statement. “This should be done by ensuring a right balance between cultural and industrial objectives, since together these determine the sector’s competitiveness, and by securing the highest possible budget.
“The film and audiovisual sector needs effective and sector-tailored EU funding programmes to safeguard its long-term resilience, competitiveness and the vitality of Europe’s cultural and creative ecosystem.”
It described the Media programme as “undeniably a success story” and “instrumental in helping the European film and audiovisual sector to become increasingly culturally and creatively diverse, while proactively supporting collaboration at European level, as well as the development of markets and audiences for European film and TV works.”
The letter also stressed the importance of Media for strengthening cultural diversity, democratic values and common European identity, and for “enhancing social cohesion, while fostering innovation, competitiveness, economic growth and skilled jobs.”
Creative Europe has a €2.44bn ($2.66bn) budget for the seven years from 2021-27, with three sub programmes: Media, Culture (which supports all other cultural and creative sectors except AV and film) and Cross Sectoral (which encourages collaboration across sectors). Media receives the largest share – a minimum 58% – of Creative Europe’s budget.
The signatories to the letter are: the Audiovisual Training Coalition (ATC); Eurocinema; Europa Distribution; Europa International; European Audiovisual Production (CEPI); European Film Promotion (EFP); European Producers Club (EPC); Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA); Film and Audiovisual Markets in Europe (F.A.M.E.); International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas (CICAE); International Federation of Film Distributors’ and Publishers’ Associations (FIAD); International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF); International Union of Cinemas (UNIC); International Video Federation (IVF); Smart7 and the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA).
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