European Film Pros urge Commission to invest more

'NEW HORIZONS FOR EUROPE'S AUDIOVISUAL SECTOR'
EUROPEAN AUDIOVISUAL CONFERENCE UTRECHT - 25, 26, 27 SEPTEMBER 2004

EUROPEAN FILM PROFESSIONALS URGE COMMISSION TO INVEST MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY FILM PRODUCTION COMPANIES

At the European Audiovisual conference, held from 25th till 27th September in Utrecht at the occasion of the Netherlands Film Festival, film professionals and policymakers gathered to discuss the future of the European Audiovisual Sector. The main topics were the recognition of different needs and sizes of the participating countries, the necessity to invest in the sustainability of European production companies and strategies for encouraging private investments in the European audiovisual sector.

Chair of Meeting Ryclef Rienstra emphasized that European Audiovisual Policy is meaningless if the individual states do not fulfil the minimum requirements for sustainable local film industry.

Polish producer Dariusz Jablonski underpinned the necessity for the new EU member states to invest in development, production and distribution, in order to enable the individual filmmakers from these countries to connect with a larger European market.

British consultant Jonathan Olsberg signalled the predominance of cultural policy to the detriment of business planning. There is a need for public strategies to focus on companies rather than on single film projects.

According to Simon Perry, President of Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (ACE), public money should not compete with or try to imitate private money. Where possible, public money should facilitate private money and be applied to the reduction of the investors' risk.

On behalf of the Dutch Presidency of the EU, festival director Doreen Boonekamp urged the next Presidencies Luxembourg and the UK to follow up the recommendations of this conference in the light of the Commission's proposals for the extension of the MEDIA Programme 2007 - 2013.