24/09/2007

While European agency film directors (EFAD) are meeting today at the San Sebastian Film Festival, France’s Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) and Germany’s FFA (Filmförderungsanstalt) have adopted a common declaration on digital screening in cinemas.

Emphasising this key issue in the changing future of European cinema, the two agencies underlined "the commitment to ensuring that theatre equipment and the creation of distribution channels are done in strict respect of international standards, which are currently being finalised".

Showing their willingness to give their priority to the digitalisation of European films, the CNC and FFA have also insisted on the importance of three principles: the quality and security of digital screening, the unity of technological level in cinemas and the neutrality of the technology with regard to the relations between different actors in the branch. The objective is the transparent implementation of digital screening in Europe, while respecting the specific qualities and diversity of the European film sector."

By inviting in particular their national peers and the European Commission to embrace their cause, the two agencies pointed out once again that their positions depend on "the particular conception that we share in Europe, that of cinema as an artistic expression whose diversity and creative independence need to be preserved in the move to digital", while not forgetting the desire to strengthen the European film industry.

(Translated from French)