09/11/2007

The Seminar New Potential, New Opportunities: The way forward for the European Film Industry organised in the European Parliament by EGEDA in association with MEP Ignasi Guardans (see news) proved that the future of European cinema is currently being shaped by a series of technological advances, which professionals are still unable to control in an effective and consensual way.

The three sessions – focused on the themes of Video On Demand (V.O.D.), sources of financing and exchanges with non-EU countries – posed questions rather than pointing out dogmatic answers.

The most vivid debates were related to V.O.D., piracy fighting and the possibility of a European business model. Danish producer Bo Ehrhardt assumed that "V.O.D is a new platform that producers do not control. In Denmark, we have created a company that manages all V.O.D. rights and people interested in them should negotiate directly with that company. This might eventually be a model to be followed by other countries".

UGC General Manager Alain Sussfeld, for whom V.O.D. is simultaneously "a potential and a danger", manifested his scepticism when it comes to the future of new platforms and their success: "Multiplying legal offer is not going to help to fight illegal downloads. People are used to doing it for free."

During the second session of the day, focused on film financing, Spanish filmmaker Gerardo Herrera openly criticised EU support of the film industry. Herrera, also co-producer of Álex de la Iglesia's upcoming film The Oxford Crimes, mentioned that there is no such thing as a European industry. "Everything is organised around films succeeding in international festivals. They are, most of the time, sold by French companies that are supported by MEDIA. In Spain it is urgent to protect independent producers and promote tax benefits," he said.

The journey came to an end with a reflection on the cooperation with third countries. Jean-Eric de Cockborne, head of the Audiovisual and Media Policy Unit of the European Commission, broached the possibility of participation of non-EU members (besides the already participating Switzerland and EFTA countries) in the MEDIA Programme or even the potential creation of a new programme for that effect. MEDIA Mundus – after Erasmus Mundus – is a possible name.