A growing number of Greek film professionals are raising concerns over the ongoing dysfunction at the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece (also known as EKKOMED, its Greek acronym), the national institution responsible for administering the country’s cash-rebate scheme and supporting the audiovisual sector. In an open letter published on 6 June under the title “Visibility: Zero”, 1,896 signatories outlined their demands for institutional reform. They highlight severe delays in rebate payments and systemic issues following the agency’s recent restructuring.

The letter reports that since March 2024, no rebate payments have been made, while no new projects have been approved since November. The signatories estimate that over €180 million in rebate funding remains unpaid across 173 certified productions, including films, series, documentaries and other formats. Many of these productions, they claim, are facing liquidity problems or are unable to finalise their financing plans owing to the freeze in state support.

The authors attribute the issues to EKKOMED’s restructuring and integration into the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) framework, which they say has introduced excessive bureaucratic complexity and incompatibility with standard production practices. They cite the abolition of contingency funding, the lack of provisions for international co-productions, and rigid milestone-based approvals that delay payment schedules and discourage foreign investment. Moreover, they express concern over the absence of dialogue between the institution and the wider sector, and the increasing centralisation of decision-making power without any industry expertise.

In addition to the issues with the cash rebate, the signatories criticise the overall level of public support for cinema. The letter states that Greece currently allocates just €6.5 million annually to selective funding for film production – one of the lowest in the EU relative to population and output – and calls for this figure to be increased to at least €15 million per year. The letter also demands a thorough reorganisation of EKKOMED’s leadership structure and an open, consultative process to establish a new legal framework for public funding. The authors have set a deadline of 15 September for the government to respond.

“Visibility: Zero reflects our collective frustration and urgent call for reform,” the letter states. “The future of Greek audiovisual production depends on transparency, timely funding, and a partnership between institutions and professionals.”

On 10 June, EKKOMED issued a public statement explaining that since its re-establishment ten months ago, more than €50 million have been allocated to the sector. This includes €11 million earmarked for selective funding, €130,000 for distribution support and €39 million for certified rebate payments. Of this rebate total, €20.3 million have already been disbursed, and the remaining €18.7 million began being released as of 4 June, following what EKKOMED described as a “brief three-month pause” caused by administrative adjustments related to the ESIF transition.

EKKOMED defended its reforms to ensure long-term financial stability and better alignment with EU standards. It noted that the new system has expanded available funding through additional resources such as the TV advertising levy, and is designed to deliver a more predictable and sustainable financing model. The statement also highlighted efforts to increase transparency and efficiency, including the digitisation of procedures and the launch of co-development and training initiatives with international partners. The statement urged stakeholders to support the modernisation process and participate in ongoing consultations about the future of the Greek audiovisual ecosystem.

The open letter is one of the largest collective actions by the Greek audiovisual community in recent years. With Greece preparing to host prominent international film festivals, major co-production forums and the 2027 European Film Awards, unresolved tensions between institutions and professionals risk undermining the sector’s credibility. Whether EKKOMED and the government will respond constructively to these calls remains to be seen.