On the occasion of the 75th Venice International Film Festival, 165 screenwriters and directors across Europe have come together in the "Venice Declaration" (read it in full here) to call on the European Parliament to adopt legislation that puts authors at the heart of copyright and of the European cultural and creative industries, including online. The action is backed by FERA (Federation of European Film Directors), FSE (Federation of Screenwriters in Europe) and SAA (Society of Audiovisual Authors).

On 12 September, the members of the European Parliament will adopt the Parliament's position on the draft Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. After several delays, this vote is the last chance for a final adoption of this much-needed Directive before the European elections. It will determine the future for audiovisual authors; if they will have a chance to receive fair and proportionate remuneration for the use of their works across the EU in a near future or if will they be left behind for another decade.

Filmmakers in Venice selections Jacques Audiard, Joachim Lafosse, Mike Leigh, Laszlo Nemes and Pierre Schoeller, LUX Prize finalists Benedikt Erlingsson, Wolfgang Fischer and Mila Turajlic, as well as Iciar Bollaín, Costa-Gavras, Matteo Garrone, Agnieszka Holland, Daniele Luchetti, Laura Morante, Cristian Mungiu, Alan Parker, Stefan Ruzowitzky, Lone Scherfig, Volker Schlondörff, Paolo Sorrentino, Paweł Pawlikowski, Bertrand Tavernier, Paolo Taviani, Fernando Trueba, Margarethe von Trotta and many others across Europe signed the Venice Declaration. Most of them already signed the FERA/FSE/SAA petition supported today by more than 18,700 signatories from over 100 countries worldwide.

The declaration reads, "We, audiovisual authors, absolutely need this Directive to be adopted on time: to ensure freedom of expression and independence of creators as well as authors' rights. The principle of fair and proportionate remuneration, improved measures on the transparency of the exploitation and contract adjustment mechanism will make a big difference. With these provisions, the Directive will improve our position in the industry."