05/12/2003

Following on from the boom in DVDs, the home video market has been criticised by a number of cinema professionals. The video publishers have been accused of not contributing enough to the funding of films and of sabotaging the Tv braodcasting of films (DVDs are released 6 months after theatrical release, while satellite Tv channels hgave to wait a year, and free to air channels have to wait two or even three years). In addition, many producres-distributors are also taking on the role of video publishers, for example Gémini Films and Diaphana. All these problems are being debated on the last day of European Perspectives on Video Publishing (PEVE), which is taking place in Marseille. The event is organised with support of the MEDIA Programme, the French National Film Centre - CNC , the Syndicat de l'Edition Vidéo and the International Video Federation. PEVE is chaired by Jean-Paul Commin and professionals from the sector have been meeting since Wednesday to have in-depth discussions about the circulatuion of videos and DVDs.

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The programme includes debtaes on hot topice likes the analysis of the evolution of the European DVD market, which has seen a fall in the level of increase registered in 2003 (from 10 to 15%). The discussions also focus on European enlargement, and in particular the countries from the East, as well as a look at the animation sector, which is a heavy hitter on the home video market. Finally there will also be a debate about the development of video on demand.

(Translated from French)