30/04/2008

The Euromed Audiovisual Think Tank launched an Open Letter (see text), written by Luciana Castellina (honorary president of Cineuropa), which calls for the relaunch of the Euromed Audiovisual Programme and cooperation between European and Mediterranean countries in the audiovisual sector.

The Euromed Audiovisual Programme was launched in January 2006 and will end in December 2008 after three years of activity. Numerous workshops have been held, bringing together over 650 professionals and Mediterranean institutions. A total of 150 film releases have been financed and over 1m viewers have had the chance to discover European, southern and northern Mediterranean films.

An important prospective study has been carried out by the Euromed Audiovisual Think Tank. This involved bringing together professionals and representatives from the European and Mediterranean institutions in order to consider the future policies necessary for audiovisual cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Think Tank has drawn up a working paper entitled "Towards a Strategy for the Development of Euro-Mediterranean Audiovisual Cooperation" (text available for consultation here) which emphasises the importance of a lasting policy conducive to the development of the audiovisual sector and the strengthening of mutual relations and intercultural dialogue.

This working paper is set to be discussed at the upcoming Euromed Culture Ministers Conference which will take place in Athens from May 29-30. There is, however, no guarantee at this stage that the programme will continue after 2008.

The Think Tank hopes that the letter will be circulated as widely as possible in order to put pressure on the different governments and foster dialogue between the North and South in the audiovisual sector.