From: Julia Hahn <
[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 3:03 PM
To: KUL min <
[email protected]>
Subject: Film and AV Sector in Europe: Renewed Call for COVID-19 Action by the EU and Member
States
Joint Film and Audiovisual Sector COVID-19 Statement
May 5, 2020
Dear Minister,
In anticipation of your discussions at tomorrow's video conference of EU Ministers of Culture
on the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the culture and media sectors, the film and audiovisual
sector in Europe is reiterating its call for urgent action by the EU and Member States to
safeguard the future of the sector.
The attached Joint Film and Audiovisual Sector COVID-19 Statement of May 5, 2020, has the
support of 116 professional organisations and individual companies in the film and
audiovisual sector in Europe, ranging from screenwriters, authors, directors, performers,
trade unions, producers, cinemas, distributors, sales agents, publishers on physical media
and online, online distribution/streaming platforms and broadcasters.
Standing united, we are calling for urgent action by EU and Member State decision-makers
to safeguard the future of the sector in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, following in the
footsteps of initial emergency measures announced at national level, including by film funds
and other bodies.
Why does it matter? We are facing a profound crisis for creativity and culture in Europe – for
businesses and for individuals. Our sector is at the heart of Europe’s cultural, creative and
social identity and a key contributor to the European economy and employment; immediate
intervention is therefore crucial and indeed strategic for European and national unity going
forward. Without a firm commitment from European and national leaders, the film and
audiovisual sector in Europe will not recover from the unprecedented impact of the health
crisis.
Our sector could play a major role in the healing and recovery process that our societies are
going to face in the months and years ahead – but only if its basic infrastructure can be saved.
Why is film/AV specific? The sector is characterized by its project-based nature and irregular
business cycles - a vast interconnected eco-system from project development through
creation, financing, production, exhibition, distribution (online and offline), and all forms of
broadcasting. The sector’s activities are driven by numerous individual creators,
entrepreneurs, companies of all sizes, including many SMEs and freelancers that have all been
thrown into a social and economic crisis as a result of the pandemic. Each segment of the
sector from project development, financing, production through exhibition, distribution and
broadcasting will have its own specific challenges going forward. Different impacts are
experienced in different Member States, including in different parts of each individual
Member State.
The negative impact will not stop when normal activities resume in our societies; rather it will
continue through the medium- to long-term due to the long development/lead time nature
of the sector.
Although gathering around screens at home has contributed to a sense of unity during the
crisis, this has not stopped the current wave of mass job and income losses in the film and
audiovisual sector, nor will it translate into recovery of investments, simple resumption of
interrupted production, exhibition or distribution activities, or indeed funding for
development of future projects.
What is needed? Urgent financial support now and in the months to come to safeguard the
existing film and audiovisual eco-system and the future of the sector in Europe which is
suffering grievously because of valid social distancing measures and related societal
consequences. The crisis in our sector will be felt way beyond the confinement period.
The film and audiovisual sector in Europe can be a conduit and a catalyst for the debates and
discussions which will be essential in Europe’s democracies as its citizens come to terms with
the consequences of this unprecedented crisis and lay the groundwork for new optimism and
confidence in our shared European future.
We thank you in advance for your kind consideration and remain at your disposal for further
engagement with the 116 signatory organisations and companies.
Yours sincerely,
Julia Hahn
Joint Film and Audiovisual Sector COVID-19 Statement – 5 May 2020
ΣΕΠΚΤΒ ΠΕΑΚ
PTO . . / . .
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Joint Film and Audiovisual Sector COVID-19 Statement – 5 May 2020
The film and audiovisual sector in Europe calls for urgent action by EU and Member State decision-makers to
safeguard the future of the sector in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, following in the footsteps of initial
emergency measures announced at national level, including by film funds and other bodies.
Why does it matter? We are facing a profound crisis for creativity and culture in Europe – for businesses and for
individuals. Our sector is at the heart of Europe’s cultural, creative and social identity and a key contributor to
the European economy and employment; immediate intervention is therefore crucial and indeed strategic for
European and national unity going forward. Without a firm commitment from European and national leaders,
the film and audiovisual sector in Europe will not recover from the unprecedented impact of the health crisis.
Our sector could play a major role in the healing and recovery process that our societies are going to face in the
months and years ahead – but only if its basic infrastructure can be saved.
Why is film/AV specific? The sector is characterized by its project-based nature and irregular business cycles - a
vast interconnected eco-system from project development through creation, financing, production, exhibition,
distribution (online and offline), and all forms of broadcasting. The sector’s activities are driven by numerous
individual creators, entrepreneurs, companies of all sizes, including many SMEs and freelancers that have all
been thrown into a social and economic crisis as a result of the pandemic. Each segment of the sector from
project development, financing, production through exhibition, distribution and broadcasting will have its own
specific challenges going forward. Different impacts are experienced in different Member States, including in
different parts of each individual Member State.
The negative impact will not stop when normal activities resume in our societies; rather it will continue through
the medium- to long-term due to the long development/lead time nature of the sector.
Although gathering around screens at home has contributed to a sense of unity during the crisis, this has not
stopped the current wave of mass job and income losses in the film and audiovisual sector, nor will it translate
into recovery of investments, simple resumption of interrupted production, exhibition or distribution activities,
or indeed funding for development of future projects.
What is needed? Urgent financial support now and in the months to come to safeguard the existing film and
audiovisual eco-system and the future of the sector in Europe which is suffering grievously because of valid social
distancing measures and related societal consequences. The crisis in our sector will be felt way beyond the
confinement period.
The film and audiovisual sector in Europe can be a conduit and a catalyst for the debates and discussions which
will be essential in Europe’s democracies as its citizens come to terms with the consequences of this
unprecedented crisis and lay the groundwork for new optimism and confidence in our shared European future.
For additional information, please contact:
[email protected]
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