LINK

• Based on Article 34 of Law 97/2013 "On audiovisual media in the Republic of Albania", call on broadcasters to display the audiovisual spot of the awareness campaign  from the Health ministry.

• The Ministry of Culture engaged all subordinate institutions to design programs, suitable for on-line platforms and aimed at different ages. All these are being published on the social networks of the Ministry of Culture including content from the Central State Film archive films, musical pieces, virtual tours, etc.

• Postponement of the deadline for closing the analogue broadcasts in the regions of Elbasan, Shkodra, Lezha and Vlora, scheduled for 31 March 2020, until 30 June 2020

• The National Television and Radio Commission has issued some clarifications to TV and radio operators on how to disseminate information during the health crisis. 

• Deadlines for applications for the Film Financing Competition have been extended. During this time, the National Cinema Center of Armenia regularly provides online consultations for all interested producers and filmmakers.

• Publication of explanatory videos in order to raise awareness about the COVID-19 crisis.

• Publication of explanatory videos in order to raise awareness about the COVID-19 crisis.

• The VdFS committees have anchored a new Covid-19 (Coronavirus) emergency clause in the SKE guidelines in order to be able to cushion social emergencies resulting from lost earnings due to canceled film productions or other canceled orders. This grant can also be used by beneficiaries who have already received a living allowance in 2020. 

• Comeback Grant fund of EUR 25m to cover loses in cancelled film and TV productions caused by Covid.

• Guideline amended by OFI Supervisory Board in April, May and June to adapt film support schemes to the Covid crisis situation.

• Covid19 excess reserve: OFI (and the Vienna Film Fund) will assume the additional costs for Covid19-related shooting expenses, up to a maximum of 5-10% of costs from March 15 to December 31, 2020.

• Ordinance of April 30, 2020 regulates the opening of operating activities under certain conditions from May 1. Furthermore, easing measures were introduced as of June 1st, 2020 (10m2 regulation). The regulations for a minimum distance of 1 meter continue to apply, but from June 15, mouth and nose protection is no longer mandatory.

• The comeback grant for film and TV productions will enable independent film production companies to continue productions interrupted or postponed due to COVID-19 circumstances. The fund is endowed with EUR 25 million and limited until 31st Dec 2021. 

• The Austrian Film Institute has received a special Corona-help budget of EUR 1 M, especially dedicated to stimulate the script and project development.

• "SKE Fund of the Literar-Mechana
  The Social and Cultural Purpose Institutions (""SKE"") of the Literar-Mechana provide bridging help for their members in the event of loss of fees for events and projects that have not been replaced as well as other emergencies due to the current crisis situation."

Tele-

communications

• KommAustria published a net neutrality report with a focus on the Corona crisis, concluding that Corona-related additional load on the networks is very well compatible with network neutrality

• COVID-19: Rescue Package for COVID-19-related Interruptions and Delays in Shooting Films in Austria
• Location Austria is offering financial assistance for film and TV productions in which shooting had to be delayed or interrupted as a consequence of COVID-19. Assistance is available in the form of a grant of up to EUR 2.5 million per production to cover additional costs incurred.

• The government has agreed a special media funding of EUR 32 millions to help the industry get through the crisis. Almost half of this will go to private commercial broadcasters.

• 27 March: the due date for the Austrian annual VAT return has been extended from 30 June to 31 August.

• 11 May - reclassifying VAT on non-alcholic drinks from standard VAT rate of 20% to reduced rate of 10%. Many catering services is already at 10%.

• 12 June - the Austrian government has announced today that it is cutting VAT on resturants and cinemas to 5%.

• Cinemas in Austria can open from 29 May 2020 with social distancing practices. Re-opening conditions: Up to 250 moviegoers per screening. Form August 1st up to 500 moviegoers, with exceptions made up to 1000 moviegoers. 

• The Austrian film associations, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, published a comeback work concept for filming in the field of film and television during the Corona crisis.

• The ministry has published a series of recommendations related to the planned relaxation in the fight against the pandemic, to guide the resumption of cultural activity consisting of the organization of events and gatherings such as in theatres, cabarets or cinemas. 

• The sales tax on art, culture and publishing will be reduced to 5% by the end of 2020.

• Due to unique, Covid-19-related special funding for development funding by the BMKOES and the resulting urgency to act, the Supervisory Board decided to temporarily expand item 4 of the funding guidelines ("Script development funding") for the submission date on May 26, 2020. As an exception, exposés (instead of treatments) for Script development funding) can also be submitted on this date.

• Austrian Film Institute will accept revenue and other exploitation reports up to six months afterwards (instead of April 30, 2020). For all film projects with theatrical release 2019, the latest possible submission date is October 30, 2020

• The Federal Government listed the support measures for the cultural sector in place to combat the effects of the coronavirus.

• Deferral of social security contributions for cultural institutions.
• The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) has developed a package of measures to support employers in the event of short-term liquidity problems. These measures include the deferral of the premium and waiver of interest on arrears for the undertakings concerned.

Government/
Parliament

• Reduction and deferral of social security contributions for self-employed cultural workers
• The Austrian social insurance institutions (SVS) offer the persons concerned the possibility of deferring social security contributions or paying them in instalments, as well as reducing the contribution base. In addition, it is also possible to obtain full or partial leniency for interest on arrears.

• Hilfsprogramm für heimische Musiklabels
• The Austrian Music Industry Association is launching a EUR 1 million support programme for national music labels. The aid programme is based on one-off non-repayable contributions and comprises two specific measures: EUR 500 of special production aid for small beneficiaries and a Structural Funds label for medium-sized beneficiaries.

• COVID 19 - Fonds für Künstler und Kulturvermittler
• This KSVF aid fund with a total amount of EUR 5 million is intended to support artists and cultural mediators who are not eligible for the hardship fund of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and is intended to compensate for the loss of income caused by closures and cancellations.

• The collecting societies have set up a cultural disaster fund of EUR 1 million, exclusively reserved for music authors in financial difficulty due to significant copyright or royalty losses.

• SKE Fund of the Bildrecht Collecting Society for Visual Artists
• Artists and creators who are in extraordinary economic distress due to the Corona crisis can apply for financial support from the Bildrecht Bridging Fund. This fund is a grant from the SKE-Fonds (social and cultural institutions) of the Bildrecht, which does not have to be repaid.

• Initiative "Stiftungen helfen Künstlern"
• A private initiative, in addition to public aid, designed to compensate for the loss of artists' income through the grouping of foundations for the creation of a fund.  More information on this fund will be available soon.

• In response to current events, the City of Vienna Culture is now offering freelance artists the opportunity to apply for one-off work grants of up to EUR 3000.

• Corona-Kurzarbeit (Short-time work)
• Special model of short-time working can also be used by cultural institutions. This makes it possible to reduce working time to 10% while maintaining employees in an employment relationship with almost full wage compensation. AMS reimburses employer for the costs of lost working hours on the basis of fixed and flat rates. The Federal Economic Chamber is processing applications to the hardship fund for the Federal Government.

• Hardship-Fund Emergency aid of EUR 2 billion for one-person-business, micro-enterprise, artists, etc, up to EUR 6000 per person/company.
• The Federal Economic Chamber is processing applications to the hardship fund for the Federal Government.

Link to source document

Link to source document

• SKE Fonds für soziale Notfälle (Fund for social Emergencies)
• A one-off grant of up to EUR 4 500 may be awarded to an applicant in financial distress due to the consequences of the coronavirus (e.g. loss of earnings due to cancelled film productions or after cancellation of other orders/events/tours, debt after investments made, mandatory upcoming costs, additional support costs, etc.). Childcare costs due to the closure of schools and kindergartens can also be subsidized. In addition to the general information required for social grants

Link to source document

Link to source document

• SKE Katastrophenfond The "SKE-R", a dedicated fund of EUR 250 000 for MVA disasters, has been set up and will be used mainly to provide support in the field of social facilities in the current emergency situation surrounding the outbreak of the coronavirus. In the field of cultural institutions, damage caused and proven by the emergence of the coronavirus can be compensated up to EUR 10 000 per beneficiary and frustrated expenses of cultural institutions caused by the emergence of the coronavirus can be compensated in the interest of the beneficiaries.

• Federal Act enacting a Federal Act establishing the COVID-19 Crisis Management Fund (COVID-19-FondsG) and a Federal Act on Provisional Measures to Prevent the Dissemination of COVID-19 (COVID-19-Maßnahmengesetz)
• The federal government has set up a general COVID-19 crisis management fund worth EUR 4 billion to help companies affected by the crisis. The exact modalities for granting support are currently being developed.
• The support is expected to cover:
• loan guarantees as a stop-gap measure (less suitable for the AV sector)   
• a hardship fund with direct payments for one-person companies and SMEs.
• In addition, there is the possibility to apply for deferral of advance payments on income tax and social security or payment in installments. The authorities in these areas will waive interest rates on late payments.

Link to source document

Link to source document

• In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Department of Civilian Protection announced on 14 May 2020 that cinemas and cultural institutions can resume activities. The cinemas reopened on 18 May.

• The Communications Regulatory Agency of BiH (the Agency), in cooperation with UNICEF, has conducted a survey on adequate information of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly young people, on the situation regarding Covid-19. 

• CRA advised the media to adhere to professional and ethical standards in reporting on the current health crisis caused by Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). 

• CRA called upon all licensees to apply professional and ethical standards, and inter alia, to read out all important numbers displayed on the screen, thus making such information accessible to blind and visually impaired persons. 

• CRA called upon all television stations to broadcast information in a format accessible to persons with hearing impairment by providing sign language interpretation. It also sent recommendations to the three Public Service Broadcasters, referring to compliance with obligations outlined by the Law on Public Broadcasting System, which require PSBs to broadcast, without delay and free of charge, urgent notices issued by the authorities, such as notices of danger to life and health, endangered property, security, and public order and peace. Public Service Broadcasters were also recommended to make all information concerning COVID-19  accessible to persons with hearing impairment, i.e., to provide interpretation into sign language.

• CRA decided to reduce the rate and value of the point for calculation of the license fee in broadcasting for the year 2020 from 0,50% to 0,25%, instead of out of overall revenue of the licensee in the fiscal year 2019. Besides, the deadline for payment of the calculated annual fee has been prolonged to 30 September 2020. The implementation of this measure will reduce broadcasters’ costs in the amount of around EUR 90,000. Furthermore,  CRA decided to cover the full annual amount of the state contribution for the use of the frequency spectrum on behalf of all broadcasting licensees from its budget. The implementation of this measure shall reduce broadcasters' costs in the amount of around EUR 350,000.

• CRA, in collaboration with relevant institutions and organizations in the field of media and information literacy, created a Facebook page which, among other things, provides various information on how to strengthen media and public understanding of COVID-19.

• The Communication Regulatory Agency (CRA) calls for the maintenance of standards of freedom of expression and information in times of crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and draws attention to the statement of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Media Environment and Reforms

• The Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) calls for the application of professional and ethical standards in media coverage of the coronavirus crisis.
  The agency calls on AVMS providers to exercise the utmost care when making editorial decisions on the content they publish about the current health crisis, to avoid spreading misinformation that could cause panic and fear among citizens, and to question their health and safety.

• Sabam created a EUR 1000 grant to the creators of new webseries, in order to support creative talent and contribute to the revival of the audiovisual sector."

• PlayRight has created an emergency fund for artists under significant financial pressure to partially compensate for the loss of income due to the cancellation of their activities in Belgium caused by the pandemic. The fund will amount to EUR 360,000 and will take the form of an individual grant up to a maximum of EUR 250 / month for the months of March, April and May 2020.
• Update 02/06/2020: the emergency fund was extended during the month of June 2020
• Update 20/07/2020: the emergency fund was extended during the months of July and August 2020
• Update 09/11/2020: the emergency fund is extended until December 2020.

• PlayRight anticipated the distribution of neighbouring rights for music recordings that were broadcast and exploited in Belgium in 2019, in order to support the musicians affected by the measures taken in the fight against Covid-19.

• "The Government has decided to extend the temporary guarantee mechanism through the St'Art Fund, launched last June. This guarantee fund, intended to compensate for the lack of insurance cover for the resumption of shootings, comes after deduction of a franchise and is capped at three levels according to the following guidelines: 
• EUR 1 million maximum compensation per film;
• a maximum of 20% of the total budget for the indemnification of a film;
• EUR 5 million maximum compensation for the total number of claims covered."

Film/ AV sector – Exhibition

Film agency

• As part of a new package of measures (EUR 6m) announced on May 22nd, complementing the April measures. Support to exhibitors: health measures covered; 15,000 cinema tickets bought; support to distributors who make films available at reopening; press campaign to promote cinema going after reopening.

Film/ AV sector – Production

• As part of a new package of measures (EUR 6m) announced on May 22nd, complementing the April measures. Support to producers: health security extra costs for shotings covered; increase by 20% of production grants for film in 2020 and 2021; bonus EUR 100 000 to EUR 150 000 per TV series title in prodyction with RTBF.

• Act to improve the status of workers in the cultural sector
• The aim of this law is to limit the impact of the coronavirus crisis on artists and technicians in the artistic sector by taking a number of temporary measures in the unemployment regulations that relate to eligibility requirements, the conditions for granting and the amount of unemployment benefit, such as:
• the possibility of cumulating unemployment benefit with copyright and related rights income,
• the neutralisation of reference periods for the acquisition and maintenance of the status of artist,
• the freezing of the reference period for establishing the right to refuse a job offer outside the artistic sector,
• the temporary easing of access to unemployment benefits.

• Guarantee scheme for persons and companies affected by the Corona crisis In an agreement, the federal government, the National Bank of Belgium and the financial sector have joined forces to maintain lending to individuals, the self-employed and businesses. This agreement is based on two pillars in particular :
• The financial sector undertakes to grant viable non-financial businesses and the self-employed, as well as mortgage borrowers with payment problems as a result of the corona crisis, a free postponement of payments until 30 September 2020.
• The federal government will activate a guarantee system, amounting to EUR 50 billion, for all new loans and credit lines of up to 12 months that banks grant to viable non-financial businesses and the self-employed.

• The Federal Government extended by 3 months, until 30 June 2020, options for temporary unemployment due to force majeure. Pending recognition of the status of a “company in difficulty”, companies can invoke this status to be able to make their employees temporarily unemployed for economic reasons. 

• 14 April - next VAT returns and intra-community declarations deadline, normally 20 April, is extended to 5 June 2020. The payment deadline for these returns is postponed to 20 July 2020.

• 6 May - businesses have been given until 24 May to apply for speedy VAT refunds.

• 10 June - Belgium confirms cut from 12% to 6% for restaurant and catering services between 8 June and 31 Dec 2020. 

• BEA has launched a media campaign called #PlayLocal, calling for people to support and listen to Belgian music and artists in order to support Belgian artists.

• Cinemas and other cultural spaces can open on July 1st, 2020 with a maximum of 200 people.

• Publication of a guide with measures aimed at minimising the risk of infection with COVID -19 during audiovisual productions. 
• The guide contains all measures applicable to the audiovisual production sector, all taken fomr the generic guide published by the Government and the Higher Council for Prevention and Protection at Work.

• Wallonia’s regional audiovisual hub's Wallimages Fund's 100th investment session in June 2020 will allow projects recently selected by Wallimage to be eligible for additional funding, within the limit of the maximum contribution of EUR 400 000 per project. Therefore, any additional regional audiovisual expenditure which was not included in the initial application and has not yet been incurred, can potentially be covered by the fund. The additional funding granted will not be included in the calculation of the fund’s revenue recoupment.

• Screen Brussels published a guide "Good practices for filming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic" which includes tips and non-binding recommendation aimed to help the future restart of filming.

• SABAM is making EUR 18 million available to its member authors by allowing them to make an early withdrawal from the social fund reserves that they build up during their career (and which they cannot normally withdraw before the age of 60). 

• PlayRight has created an emergency fund for artists under significant financial pressure to partially compensate for the loss of income due to the cancellation of their activities in Belgium caused by the pandemic. The fund will amount to EUR 360,000 and will take the form of an individual grant up to a maximum of EUR 250 / month for the months of March, April and May 2020.

• The Flemish Government announced on 2 June that 6,9 M€ of the Flemish Emergency Corona Fund will be allocated for the audiovisual sector, managed by VAF. 

• The Flemish Government has approved the launch of a guarantee fund of 10 million euros for the Flemish audiovisual sector. Management is entrusted to the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF).

• As a result of the corona crisis, higher amounts of production aid have been approved.

• The VAF creates a temporary Slate Funding subsidy line for new and fledgling projects. The aid is awarded in one go to a package of 3 to 5 audiovisual creation projects, for a total capped amount of maximum EUR 250 000.

• The VAF is creating a temporary distribution fund that will financially support the distribution of films supported by the VAF / Film Fund as majoritarian Flemish until December 2021.

• Screen Flanders published specific COVID-19 guidelines and protocols for the resumption of shooting for the Television & Media industry and for the Film industry.

Cross sector - All industries

• Deferral or extension of payment for companies by the Flemish tax authorities.

Cross sector - All industries

Government/
Parliament

• Compensation scheme for companies suffering from large loss of turnover
• Deferred loan repayment
• Support for temporary unemployment due to Covid-19
• Support measures for self-employed who stop their activities even voluntarily. 
• Aid to recruit employees

Film/AV sector – Broadcasting

• In view of the economic impact of combating the coronavirus, it was decided in consultation between the Minister of Media and the VRM administration to grant deferred payment to the network and local radio broadcasters involved.

• Payment of production aid: advance of 5% + larger share in the beginning

Cultural & creative industries

Government/
Parliament

• Creation of an online FAQ about measures intended to help the cultural sector which addresses the cultural industries' current issues along with the establishment of a hotline.

• For the audiovisual sector, the current period of 18 months (24 months for animation) within which expenditure must be made is extended by 6 months.

• For VAF–supported events, workshops, etc that are cancelled: non-refundable costs that are already made will be accepted

• More flexibility regarding administration, reporting and other funding conditions (until the end of 2020): extension of contractual deadlines, flexibility in changes of finance plans, adjustments of payment schemes, flexibility in spend obligations (if motivated) and deliverables

• In order to support the cultural operators of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and to enable their redeployment, the Ministry of Culture has decided to compensate for the loss of ticket sales in theatres (performing arts and music) until the end of December 2020 by means of a lump-sum compensation payment of EUR 2.8 million.

• The Government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has decided to extend measures aimed at supporting cinematographic shootings until 31 December 2020. The measures are supposed to end on 30 September 2020.
• This guarantee, which comes after deduction of a deductible, is triple capped according to the following guidelines: 
• EUR 1 million maximum compensation per film;
• 20% maximum of the total budget for film compensation; 
• EUR 5 million maximum compensation for the total claims covered.

• As part of a new package of measures (EUR 6m) announced on May 22nd, complementing the April measures. Support to authors: new writing and development fund from September; new grant (Orange) for feature film writing; new funding for writing and producing animated series; new call for 'new writing' research; new call with RTBF for creative writing.

• As part of a new package of measures (EUR 6m) announced on May 22nd, complementing the April measures. Support to exhibitors: health measures covered; 15,000 cinema tickets bought; support to distributors who make films available at reopening; press campaign to promote cinema going after reopening.

• As part of a new package of measures (EUR 6m) announced on May 22nd, complementing the April measures. Support to producers: health security extra costs for shootings covered; increase by 20% of production grants for film in 2020 and 2021; bonus EUR 100 000 to EUR 150 000 per TV series title in prodyction with RTBF.

Film Agency

• Launch on 20 June of a Guarantee Fund intended to compensate for the lack of insurance coverage for filming. The government decided to use the St'Art Fund (Impact Fund for Culture and Creativity) as a guarantee fund intended to compensate filming started between 1 July and 30 September 2020 that would be interrupted or suspended due to the COVID. 

• In order to support its members during the crisis, the SACD decided that the distribution schedule would be accelerated, and grants, upon request, advances on fees, advances on repertoire and social assistance.

• In order to better understand the impact of the crisis on its members and to formulate solutions adapted to each member's situation, the SACD has put online a questionnaire to identify the problems encountered by the authors of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation following the consequences of the health crisis.

• The SACD keeps its members informed by publishing regularly updated FAQs on permitted cultural activities during the deconfinement phase,  support scheme, unemployment and status of artists, etc.

• The government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has adopted a support scheme  for the media and journalists, which includes direct support for independent journalists through an increase of EUR 550 000 in the resources allocated to the Journalism Fund.

• The Walloon Government set up an extraordinary fund of EUR 233 million, extended by a further EUR 285 million on 22 April 2020. According to set conditions, Walloon companies and self-employed persons impacted by the crisis and filling in the conditions can benefit from an allowance of EUR 5,000 or an aid of EUR 2,500.

• The Government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has adopted a support scheme  to assist the media and journalists, which includes a communication campaign, whereby the Government undertakes to purchase advertising space for a public interest communication campaign in all national, regional and local print and broadcast media in order to respond to the drastic fall in their advertising revenue. EUR 1,383,043 has been earmarked for this measure. 

Film/ AV sector – Broadcasting

• The government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has adopted a support scheme for the media and journalists, which includes a budget allocation of EUR 3 000 000 to compensate the sector for the loss of revenue caused by the Covid-19 crisis. Eligible for this compensation will be the daily and periodical print media, radio stations, including independent and associative radio stations, and television stations, including local television stations.

• To meet the urgent cash flow needs of companies, SOGEPA and Wallonie Santé will offer loans without private counterpart for a maximum amount of EUR 200,000 with a 1-year repayment grace period and a fixed interest rate of 2%.

• Guarantees on short-term credit lines and investment credit type loans For companies affected by the crisis, additional guarantees may be granted by SOWALFIN - SOFINEX - GELIGAR up to :
  50 %, on existing short-term lines, initially granted by the banks without guarantee, 
  75% of the increases in short-term credit lines granted to companies to help them get through this period of crisis.

• Current loans from the SOWALFIN, SOGEPA and SRIW groups
  The maturity in principal and interest as of 31 March 2020 will not be drawn. In addition, the principal amortization schedule is automatically deferred for an equivalent period. This measure will be carried out without any additional interest or charges to be borne by the company for all loans with an outstanding amount of less (or equal) to EUR 2,5 million. 

• Purchase of 20,000 cinema seats:
  with the purchase of 20,000 cinema seats in FWB-supported cinemas, the CCA will provide additional support to exhibitors and distributors and an additional opportunity for viewers to discover arthouse films.

• Increase in production aid from the Cinema Commission by 20% for feature films, short films, documentaries and Lab films in 2020 and 2021, to compensate for the likely decrease in Tax Shelter contributions.

• Increase in aid for Belgian series: in addition to the measures envisaged by RTBF, the CSF will grant a bonus of EUR 100 000 to EUR 150 000 per series, depending on the budget of the series, in order to overcome the current difficulties in financing Belgian series.

• Implementation of a new writing and development support system in September 2020 : Increase in the number of aid for writing: from 13 to 24 grants per year ('12 500);  New aid for script development: 12 new grants of EUR 30 000 will be awarded for the artistic development of scripts.

• Launch of a call for projects with SACD and Orange Belgium in June 2020 : In order to fill a gap in the profile of films produced in FWB, 6 grants will be awarded for the writing of feature films aimed at children, teenagers and families.

• Launch of a call for projects Créanimation in September 2020 :
  To enable creators to develop original content in FWB, the CCA will launch a new call for projects aimed at supporting not only the development but also part of the production of animated series initiated in FWB.

• Coverage of the cost of health measures related to the reopening of the cinemas: Art et Essai operators will be covered for the cost of gels, masks, equipment, etc. necessary to ensure a maximum degree of safety in terms of hygiene in the rooms.

• Specific support to distributors for the reopening of cinemas : Specific support will be put in place to encourage distributors who take the risk of releasing arthouse films as soon as theatres reopen, in what promises to be a difficult context.

• Coverage of the additional costs related to the Covid-19 measures on the shooting of French-speaking Belgian initiative films - and possibly series - until December 2020. The measure could be extended depending on the budget available.

• Promotional campaign for the reopening of arthouse cinemas: a press, radio, TV and digital promotion campaign will be launched to encourage spectators to return to the theatres.

• Cultural Emergency Fund. Certain beneficiaries in the cultural sector can benefit from the emergency fund and support for operators, workers and users in sectors affected by the crisis, with a maximum allocation for culture of EUR 8.6 million. 

Film/ AV sector – Broadcasting

• Publication of a report on the impact of the health crisis with regard to the audiovisual media services of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation following a survey communicated to media outlets of the region.

Film/ AV sector – Broadcasting

• The CSA has adopted measures to reduce the administrative burden on publishers, including flexibility and taking into account the impact of the crisis when monitoring programming for the financial year 2020.

Film/ AV sector – Broadcasting

• The CSA has adopted a series of measures to reduce the administrative burden on publishers:
• Suspension of sample program applications 
• Extension of the deadline for the submission of the 2019 annual reports upon reasoned request

• The SACD offers funding to help authors of one or more works, part of the SACD repertoire, that have been the subject of postponement or cancellation on Belgian territory between 12/03/2020 and 20/04/2020.

• The Government has set up an extraordinary fund of EUR 233 million. Companies and self-employed persons strongly affected by the measures linked to the fight against the coronavirus will be compensated up to EUR 5,000 subject to acceptance after verification of their file by the agents of the Wallonia Public Service.

• Culture.be presents initiatives in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation that allow access to culture from home. Stay with us. Let’s take care of ourselves and others.

• Establishment of a EUR 50 million emergency fund:
  Support for sectors affected by containment measures whose viability is at risk (culture, equal opportunities, education, youth, sport, etc.). These measures will be aimed primarily at the most fragile actors. The bodies benefiting from the emergency fund will have to ensure the remuneration of the final service providers (e.g. for culture: companies, artists, technicians, etc.).

• St'art Cultural Enterprise Investment Fund: Launch of an emergency loan for the treasury of cultural and creative enterprises for the creation, development, production, reproduction, dissemination of goods, services and activities with a cultural, artistic and/or heritage content. The product would be available for a period of 6 months for an amount of 20,000 to 100,000 euros at a fixed rate of 2%.
  Possibility of granting a moratorium on outstanding loans (interest and capital) at the request of the companies concerned.

• Documents, some of them in a reduced form, can be sent in PDF format (instead of hard copies). 

• The theatrical support scheme will be adapted to cover costs for online distribution. After the crisis, cinema theaters will be able to release film if there is still an interest (the focus might however be on other films).

• The Government is committed to guaranteeing subsidies and speeding up the liquidation of the various subsidies in order to provide rapid financial support to the sectors of culture, equal opportunities, education and so on.

• For the French speaking Belgian films that were to be released in theaters this week or for those films where the release was suddenly stopped by the closing of cinema theaters, they will directly go on local TVoD services (Proximus, BeTV, etc). A promotion campaign led by the national film fund (CCA) “Le Cinéma belge à la maison" was launched soon in order to promote these releases and also inform people about where to find Belgian content on all Belgian platforms.

• Documents, some of them in a reduced form, can be sent in PDF format (instead of hard copies). 

Government/ Parliament

• Establishment of an audiovisual task force with media operators:
  Mobilization of media operators to disseminate quality educational, artistic and cultural content on television and multimedia platforms.

• "Think positive":
  The CSA published a non-exhaustive list of positive initiatives in times of crisis, from local and national media, to watch audiovisual and cultural content from home.

• L'école à la maison: TV Lux is offering a live broadcast of classes hosting teachers, twice a week, in the province of Luxembourg.

• Additional support in 2021 via the new Film Industry Act adopted end of 2020: total of BGN 25m (EUR 12.5m) in raise for the film industry in Bulgaria. This brings the total budget for 2021 to the record BGN 40m (EUR 20m). BGN 15m (EUR 7.5m) will go to the new incentives scheme, which will be distributed in the form of 25% cash rebate with a cap of EUR 1m per project on a first come first serve basis.

• Bulgarian Film Industry Safety Guidelines Under COVID-19 approved by the Ministry of Health.

• The Ministry of Culture announced the creation of a package of emergency financial measures aimed at the cultural sector, which will benefit to independent artists as well as state and municipal cultural institutions. The support include:
• measures declaring that freelance artists who had less than EUR 500 monthly income in 2019 will receive the minimum wage of 610 BGN (EUR 312) for a period of three months.
• Those whose monthly income is above EUR 500 are eligible to apply for monthly interest-free loans of up to EUR 750 each, repayable over the next 10 years.

• Publication of a guide which provides the basic methods for establishing technical and organizational measures for contagion prevention. The measures are implemented according order № RD-01-262/14.05.2020. of the Bulgarian Health Authorities. 

• The Bulgarian Film Guidelines site was created from the input of over 20 of the largest production companies and studios working in Bulgaria along with adapting rules and procedures from the "EU Guidelines on Basic Safety Rules for Risk Protection Against Contagion of SARS-COV-2 During Filming" as well as other industry sources. This includes Bulgarian producers recommendations for the resumption of production activity. 

• 2 April - The Bulgarian tax authorities will not extend Value Added Tax filings deadlines until further notice to help businesses through the coronavirus epidemic. 

• 11 Jun - Bulgaria confirms reducing catering, cafe and restaurant VAT rate from 20% to 9% for food and non-alcholic drinks until 31 December 2020. It is also cutting the VAT rate on e-books and published books.

• Muzikautor has set up a special session of the Social Fund which will allocate BGN 100 000 to the most vulnerable groups of the association's members. These members will be able to apply for social assistance in the amount of BGN 250.  

• Bulgarian Film Industry Safety Guidelines Under COVID-19 approved by the Ministry of Health on May 28, 2020.

• Cinemas set to reopen on 18 May, selling tickets for up to 30% of capacity and observing strict rules for social distancing.

• PROPHON will pay in advance from April 70% of the annual remuneration to performers and producers in order to help them for the losses they suffer as a result of the state of emergency.

• The State engages to cover 60% of the employee’s salary if their activities have been affected due to the declared state of emergency.

• The Council calls on media service providers to respect high professional standards and ethical standards, by:
• seeking competent state institutions and providing air for official and reliable information about the situation in the country and abroad;
• providing accurate and verified information, without distortion of the facts, without the dissemination of false information or rumors, without giving unnecessary sensationalism to events, without misleading the public, with clear indication of sources of information
• respecting the privacy of citizens as far as the subject matter is concerned coronavirus has a direct bearing on a person's life and health;
• paying particular attention to cases involving children.

Cross sector - all industries

• The Decision provides for the payment of compensatory allowances to employers and their employees, who have had to stop all or part of the work of their companies, in respect of employees engaged in economic activities covered by the Decision, which include artistic and creative activities and other cultural activities. 

• SUISA members have the possibility of obtaining an advance, which is calculated on the basis of average income in recent years and only if the member has received more than CHF 500 in copyright remuneration. As an immediate measure against the exceptional situation created by the coronavirus pandemic, the SUISA Council has decided that the compensation of advances will be suspended at least until June 2021, instead of being deducted from the next statement the member receives.

• In view of the precarious situation music creators are currently facing, the SUISA Council decided to grant additional funds. The aid granted is intended to compensate for the loss of copyright income suffered by SUISA members as a result of the cancellation of events and the closure of establishments ordered by the authorities. This fund of one and a CHF 500,000 for composers, lyricists and music publishers currently in an emergency situation due to the coronavirus crisis is intended to compensate for losses due to the lack of SUISA income. 

• SSA and Swiss Culture call for enterprises to include the Authors rights rolaties lost (due to cancellations) in their total lost calculations, so that SSA can claim it back for the authors.

• The Task-force Corona, a professional group of Associations and Unions (IG, SFP, GARP, SSFV and ARF/FDS) for audiovisual production publishes the Shooting Protection Plan.

• Portal from Suisse Culture Sociale to apply for emergency aid for cultural workers.

• Swiss Film Association publishes Protection Plan for Shootings (in German for now, French and English versions will follow).

• Federal Council adopts Covid-19 ordinance on culture, a package of measures to cope with the econimic impact of Covid. CHF 50m for 2020, CHF 100m for 2021. The Law will be valid retrospectively from September 26, 2020.

• The Federal Council announces the measures for the second wave reconfinement. No gatherings of more than 50 people are allowed.

• ARF/FDS, the association of Swiss filmmakers (authors, scriptwriters, directors, writers-producers and directors-producers), has put online a guide, "Vademecum", on the support measures available to its members. 

Link to source document

• Verordnung über Übergangsmassnahmen zugunsten der elektronischen Medien im Zusammenhang mit dem Coronavirus
• The Government has launched a package of short- and long-term measures to support the media industry, providing a total of CHF 57.5 million in immediate emergency aid for various types of media. It includes one-off payments to private radio and television broadcasters, who are receiving an additional CHF 30 million in licence fee revenue.

Cross-sector - All Industries

• The Swiss tax authorities are to grant late penalty interest relief for VAT and customs duty payments until the end of December 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Taxpayers must apply for the deferral to their VAT payments. There will be 0% interest charge. This applies to both resident and non-resident tax payers.

• Cinemas allowed to reopen in Switzerland from 6 June 2020. Re-opening conditions: Limit up to 300 moviegoers, 2m minimum distance between moviegoers, masks, frequent cleanings and tracing of every moviegoer. 

• MPLC SWITZERLAND has informed licence owners that licences already issued and invoiced for events or bookings can be extended on request until 30 June 2020. 

• Deferment of payment for social security contributions.

• The Federal Council provides companies in Switzerland with liquidity aid totaling CHF 20 billion due to the economic consequences of the corona virus.

• Partial unemployment can be granted to short time and temporary employees and people who are in apprenticeship.

• Temporary waiver of default interest in the event of late payment of taxes, incentive taxes and customs duties.

• Section 2 of COVID Ordinance in the culture sector
• The Confederation provides financial resources to give immediate support to artists: non-repayable emergency aid for artists (for their immediate vital needs, up to a maximum of CHF 196 per day).

• Section 3 of COVID Ordinance in the culture sector.
  Cultural enterprises and artists may claim compensation from the cantons for financial loss caused in particular by the cancellation or postponement of events or the closure of establishments, up to a maximum of 80% of the damage; the Confederation will pay half of the compensation granted by the cantons.

• Section 4 of COVID Ordinance in the culture sector
  Amateur music and theatre societies may be financially supported to cover the costs associated with the cancellation or postponement of events. The compensation varies according to the number of working people represented and amounts to a maximum of CHF 10,000 per cultural association.

• Section 4 of COVID Ordinance in the culture sector
  Amateur music and theatre societies may be financially supported to cover the costs associated with the cancellation or postponement of events. The compensation varies according to the number of working people represented and amounts to a maximum of CHF 10,000 per cultural association.

• Film festivals: The Fund will continue to support the festivals, no matter if the festivals has to be cancelled or not. In case film festivals are cancelled, the Fund will not adhere to the performance obligations normally connected to the grant conditions. We will also look where extra support is needed for festival organizations, whose survival is at stake due to loss of income.

Cyprus

• Update 31 March VAT payments are delayed until 10 November 2020.
• Cyprus implemented on 27 March delays on penalties for Value Added Tax payments for all businesses.

Cross-sector - All industries

• 17 April update - a limited number of taxpayers are being switched from quarterly to monthly returns to make advanced VAT payments up until 30 June 2020. They are required to remit the VAT due by the 27 of the month following the reporting month.

• 28 May, accomodation and catering services VAT rate is to be cut from 9% to 5% from 1 July 2020 until 10 January 2021.

Cross-sector - All industries

• 22 June - Quarter 2 VAT payments have been delayed. 

• The CRTA has issued several circulars to the media, providing recommendations on how to inform the public in order to avoid panic and the spread of misinformation. 

• Financial support programme for dealing with the consequences of coronavirus, including small businesses, which foresees a subsidy of 70% of the workers’ salary. The conditions and safeguards of the Plan will be announced along with the invitation and an extension of the time period for the submission of appeals at the Social Insurance Services for self-employed persons.

• The Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade has allocated CZK 900 million to support entrepreneurs involved in organizing cultural events (including for cinemas). The fund can cover up to 50% of expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling of events caused by the pandemic, via a dedicated website www.mpo.cz/kultura. The maximum amount for one-off payment is CZK 5 million. Update 15/10: The Ministry announced the second call of the COVID - Culture programme, which will distribute 750 million kroner. https://kultura.mpo.cz/

• 22 June - the imposition of mandatory EET electronic cash registers have been postponed for retail and accomodation businesses until the start of 2021.

• 26 May - The government has announced a reduction in the reduced VAT rate on accomodation and admission to cultural events. It will drop from 15% to 10%.

• 15 April - tax payers may delay the submission of Control Reports until 31 July 2020. VAT returns and payments must still be processed on time unless the taxpayer can prove substantial issues creadit by the COVID-19 crisis.

• The Arts and Theatre Institute conducted a mapping on the impact of the ministry of health’s extraordinary measures on the Czech independent arts sector.

• Cinemas allowed to reopen from May 11, with attendance limited to 100 people.

• COVID-19: self-regulatory guidelines:
• The Czech film commission published a guide, which contains a framework of general recommendations and basic safety rules to eliminate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during preproduction and production of audiovisual works 

• The OSA has set up a special page dedicated to Anti-Covid 19 measures, informing music composers, music publishers and music users useful information and advice on the current situation and what support measures are available to them. 

• Intergram offers support to artists affected by the coronaviru crisis through the Life of an Artist Foundation and will provide up to 2.3 million kroner as part of the COVID 19 grant. 

• The 2020 edition of the Karlovy Vary IFF canceled. The 55th edition will therefore take place in 2021. However, the festival's organisers will still offer a taste of the festival at selected movie theaters nationwide and the online KVIFF Eastern Promises Industry Days.

• Creation of a special portal "ČT edu" with educational videos from different areas. In addition, the group has created a new special channel ČT 3 for seniors, and set up  the broadcasting of educational programmes for schoolchildren every day of the week on channels CT 1 and CT 2 with teachers and children in the morning and afternoon. 

• Self-employed persons who prove that they have been economically damaged by the government's exceptional measures or other consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and meet other conditions will receive one-off financial aid of CZK 25 000.

• The employment protection program Antivirus is designed to help companies to protect jobs. The state will compensate companies – through the Labour Office of the Czech Republic – for wages paid out to employees.

• The Audiovisual Producers’ Association and the Czech Film Fund are providing legal assistance to all film industry workers regarding the supporting programs and national financial help that is available.

• The OSA supports composers and lyricists affected by the cancellation of musical performances by providing one-time financial assistance from its Solidarity Fund to composers and lyricists for whom concert fees are an important item in their budgets.

• Participants in tenders for cultural activities or programmes supporting national minorities are required to inform the Ministry of Culture about the impact of the epidemic on their current projects.

• Guarantee Fund (Ausfallfonds) of the Federal Government for cinematic works and high-end series announced on 11 September (EUR 50m plus Ländern part). Until June 2021. Managed by FFA.

• A EUR 50 million guarantee fund of the Federal Government for cinematic works and high-end series.

• As part of the FFA Corona emergency aid program, the deferrals of the film fee for the cinemas will be extended until December 31, 2020 . The sales generated by operating drive-in theaters are an exception.  The regulation on deferral also applies to loan repayments , i.e. deferrals already granted will also be automatically extended until December 31, 2020.

• With a new version of guideline D. 14, decided by the FFA Board of Directors on June 18, 2020, a more flexible payment of the cinema reference funds is possible. Since the applications for the cinema reference funds for the 2019 calendar year had to be submitted by March 15, 2020, a retroactive effect of the new regulation has been included.

• The Federal and regional funds launch a joint aid program (with a total volume of EUR 15 million) with measures in the areas of production (EUR 10 m), distribution (EUR 3 m.) and exhibition to counterrest the effects of coronavirus.  The FFA will provide the aid measure as an interest-free, repayment-free loan. Application until 29/05/20.

• BKM's Future Cinema program I is intended to strengthen cinemas throughout Germany, especially outside of metropolitan areas (cinemas up to seven screens, meeting some criteria can apply for funding). Increase in the maximum amount of the federal share of the grant from 40% to 80% of the eligible costs for 2020.  EUR 17 million are available from the federal government for investment funding for the cinemas.

• BKM's Future Cinema program II is intended to support cinemas that do not meet the application requirements of the Future Cinema program I (from May 2020), in their resumption of operation after the pandemic-related closure. The grant amounts to up to 80% of the eligible costs for investment in renovation, modernization and equipment measures to reduce the risk of infection. EUR 40 million are available.

• SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Standard Recommendations for film productions were published by the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the energy, textile, electrical and media products sectors (BG ETEM).

• Temporary adaptation of the rules for the payment of down payments for the start of film shooting.
  As film projects can be delayed during the Corona period, the flow of payments should not be interrupted and authors should receive their money as quickly as possible. To this end, ARD and ARD Degeto will advance the payment of the last, usually high, instalment for productions already ordered if the start of shooting has to be postponed due to Corona. 

• VDD has compiled a regularly updated overview of federal and state support measures and other options for authors. 

• The MWFK supports professional freelance artists in Brandenburg with micro-grants of EUR 1000 each so that they can carry out small artistic projects during the Corona crisis.

• The Ministry of Culture has launched a EUR 500,000 programme to support independent artists through individual grants of up to EUR 2,000. 

• Hamburg has launched a ""restart bonus "", which consists of a one-off, flat-rate bonus of over EUR 2000 euros intended to help artists to resume their creative activities. 

• Hessen supports independent artists with work grants of up to EUR 2000 to enable them to develop new projects during the gradual transition from the pandemic period.

• North Rhine-Westphalia has set up "NRW Bridging Aid Plus", an additional programme for entrepreneurs that allows them to receive a one-off payment of EUR 1000 per month for up to three months.

• Creation of the "Denkzeit" scholarship programme for artists and cultural workers so that they can creatively use the compulsory break and develop ideas for the following period. 

• The City of Leipzig has launched a special support programme entitled 'Leipzig hilft Solo-Selbstständigen' which awards applicants a one-off grant of up to EUR 2 000. Eligible persons are single self-employed persons with a permanent business establishment and main residence in Leipzig.

• Saxony-Anhalt is supporting artists through the Corona crisis with a "Culture on the Net" programme, which provides for payments of EUR 1000 per person over a maximum period of three months. 

• NEUSTART KULTUR Program
  This EUR 1 billion programme aims to support and energise the cultural sector. It includes 250 million to equip cultural facilities with a view to their reopening, benefiting in particular those facilities whose regular operation is not primarily financed from the public budget. These funds should, for example, enable facilities to implement hygiene concepts, introduce online ticketing systems and modernise ventilation systems.

• NEUSTART KULTUR Program
  This EUR 1 billion programme aims to support and energise the cultural sector. It includes the preservation and strengthening of cultural infrastructure through EUR 480 million to help the numerous small and medium-sized cultural projects and places financed by the private sector to resume their activity and to employ self-employed people and individual companies. These funds are broken down by branch, for the cinema branch a total of EUR 120 million will be made available. The funds are intended to benefit cinemas in the first instance; additional production and distribution costs will also be financed.

• NEUSTART KULTUR Program
  This EUR 1 billion programme aims to support and energise the cultural sector. It includes the promotion of alternatives including online activities in the cultural sector, with a sum of EUR 150 million made available to foster such initiatives.

• NEUSTART KULTUR Program
  This EUR 1 billion programme aims to support and energise the cultural sector. It includes EUR 100 million euros for cultural facilities that receive regular federal funding to compensate for lost income and additional expenses caused by the pandemic.

• Local TV broadcasters can apply for a one-off state-funded grant of up to EUR 20 000.

• Sachsen hilft sofort: In Saxony, SAB offers loans and guarantees to freelancers and companies in difficulty due to the crisis.They provide financial support to companies with a maximum annual income of EUR 1 million, which are negatively affected by the Covid-19 crisis (immediate financial support of a loan of up to EUR 50 000, in justified exceptional cases up to EUR 100 000).  

• From 1 July to 31 December 2020, VAT is to be reduced from 19% to 16%, while the reduced rate will be cut from 7% to 5%. 

• The German cinema association HDF Kino published official recommendations on health and safety requirements to be considered when reopening cinemas

• An on-going report by the Federal Government’s Centre of Excellence for the Cultural and Creative Industries is analysing the impact of COVID-19 on the cultural and creative industries in Germany.

• In Germany the decision on the reopening of cinemas is taken at regional level. Although some regions reopenend on June 1st, ohthers wait to June 15 and full re-opening is estimated for 30 June 2020. Drive-in cinemas are booming in Germany. By this summer, Germany will have over 100 drive-in cinemas, making it the world's second largest market after the US.

• Emergency aid Corona Hamburg (HCS)
  The Hamburg Senate has approved a series of measures that should provide ""quick and unbureaucratic"" assistance to artists and creative industries companies. These measures include grants for several sectors, including artists and cultural workers who have experienced difficulties as a result of the Corona crisis. The grants are up to EUR 2500 for the self-employed and EUR 5000 for companies with fewer than 10 employees; and will be administrated by IFB Hamburg.

• IFB-Support Loan Culture Support Module Corona Hamburg provides support for Hamburg culture within the framework of the ""Hamburger Schutzschirme für Corona-geschädigte Unternehmen und Institutionen"" (Hamburg Protection for Companies and Institutions in the Event of Corona Damage). The objective of the IFB's Corona cultural promotional loan support module is to compensate for the financial losses caused by the COVID 19 crisis for all eligible cultural enterprises. The maximum amount of the loan is EUR 150 000.

• Creation of a hotline and an online FAQ about measures intended to help companies in the film and television production industry.

• Corona emergency aid: GVL supports sound record manufacturers with advance payments 

• In order to create visible financial assistance for artists in need, the GVL has decided to pay an advance to the artists concerned, deducted from the future remuneration to which they are entitled. 

• GVL, the collective management organisation for performing artists and producers of sound recordings (Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH) has set up emergency aid in the form of a payment of EUR 250 to its independent artists for the cancellation of concerts and productions.

• GEMA has set up an emergency aid programme for its members to the tune of EUR 40 million, intended for composers, lyricists and music publishers in an economic emergency due to the coronavirus. The programme consists of two stages: The "Schutzschirm LIVE" (protective shield) which is a lump-sum emergency aid for music authors in the form of an advance payment, aimed mainly at composers and lyricists who are also performers and who are experiencing financial difficulties due to the cancellation of events throughout the country. Members whose economic losses are not sufficiently absorbed by the "Schutzschirm LIVE" can apply for assistance under the "Corona Relief Fund", a transitional financial aid for individual cases of hardship in the context of social and cultural benefits.

• Cancellation of the physical edition of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), converted into a virtual online version, renamed OnlineFestival.ITFS.de, which will take place from 5 to 10 May and will consist of three main sections: OnlineFestival Free, OnlineFestival+ and OnlineFestival Pro. 

• Support for the journalistic work of local and regional commercial broadcasters in the Corona crisis by the Sächsische Landesmedienanstalt (SLM):
• SLM will cover for the duration of the crisis the distribution costs of all local TV providers in Saxony with a current range of moving pictures on the crisis
• Awarding of a special prize of 100,000 euros for the services of local and regional radio and television providers in the context of the crisis. 
• General willingness to promote the broadcasters’ joint projects in order to strengthen them through synergies.

• Quicker payment of approved grants, higher advances on approved grants.

• For insured persons whose income forecast has changed, it is possible to report the changed income expectations to the artists' social insurance fund. The contributions are adjusted to the changed circumstances.
• In the event of acute payment difficulties, individual payment facilities can also be granted.
• Monthly advance payments can be reduced for companies subject to tax. If there are acute payment difficulties, individual payment facilities can also be granted here.

• Corona virus: Information for companies on short-time work compensation
• Short-time work allowance possible for companies if at least 10% of the employees have a loss of earnings of more than 10%. Social security contributions for lost working hours are fully reimbursed for short-time work by the employment agency. Short-time work allowance is also possible for temporary workers (but not for self-employed workers). It can be claimed for up to 12 months

• Tax relief for companies directly affected: 
• Deferrals of tax liabilities from income and corporation tax and sales tax until the end of 2020. 
• Tax prepayments can also be adjusted for income and corporate tax.

• Social Protection Package:
• Access to basic social security benefits will be made easier for cultural and media companies and child allowance is temporarily adjusted to the current situation.
• Payment facilities and postponement of payment
• Reduction in expected income from work: possibility of adjusting the estimated annual income. If the income expectation has to be reduced as a result of the Corona crisis, the compulsory insurance will be continued in the current year until further notice, even if the minimum income of € 3,900 per year cannot be reached according to current estimates.
• Measures for companies subject to the levy: extension of the deadline for submitting the declaration of chargeable remuneration payments for the year 2019 until 30.06.2020 can be granted. / payment facilities if acute and serious payment difficulties due to the effects of the corona virus.
• Reduction of the monthly advance payment

• In the case of a time shift in the distribution of works: increased costs due to the pandemy in the distribution of works will be paid out on a pro rata basis, limited to 50% of distribution costs.

• Corona: Federal states make improvements and consider journalists to be systemically relevant:
• In the Corona crisis, several federal states now consider journalists and media representatives to be ‘critical infrastructure’, making them fall under a number of exceptions to the currently imposed restrictions on the general public, including in the States of Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony and Bremen, in addition to the States of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, where journalists benefit systematically from a derogatory regime.

• Creation of a fund (FFA, regional funds and BKM) of EUR 7,5 million to cover the corona-related additional costs (up to 30% of original production costs, up to 50% of original distribution costs, up to 30% of original physical video costs).

• Help for artists and creative people:
• Aid package for solo self-employed persons and micro-enterprises,  totalling up to 50 billion euros in federal funding immediate financial assistance in the form of grants to secure the economic existence of the applicants and to bridge acute liquidity bottlenecks
• Extensive waiver of reclaims: In the event of an early termination of funded cultural projects and events, the BKM will check in individual cases whether the reimbursement of funds that have already been spent can be waived.
• Reallocation of funds and flexibility of programs: The BKM will systematically sharpen existing funding programs so that the measures benefit cultural institutions as well as artists in need and other freelancers working in the cultural and creative industries.
• Recognition of media companies as critical infrastructures : In order to continue to ensure basic information provision for the population, the BKM is committed within the federal government and to the federal states to exempt media companies including their sales as recognized critical infrastructures from mandatory closings. The staff necessary for journalistic operations should also be counted among the indispensable staff of the critical infrastructures, for example to enable them to provide emergency care for their children.
• Additional funds as emergency aid: The BKM continues through existing budget also committed to provide additional funding for culture and media as emergency aid to mitigate the already incurred and still burdens resulting therefrom.

• Rettungsschirm für den Kulturbereich: The Federal Government will provide emergency financial aid in the form of grants, with immediate operating costs such as renting cinemas, music clubs or artist studios, but also loans for business premises or leasing installments, with a Corona emergency aid for self-employed and small businesses.

• Corona emergency aid for SMEs and self-employed persons in economic difficulties as a result of Corona in the total amount of up to 50 billion euros of federal funds.

• KfW Corona Help: The German state-owned development bank KfW will support companies in coping with the Corona crisis by facilitating the short-term loans.

• Deferment of payment of due repayments. In the case of a cancellation by the distributor of the distribution of his works due to the pademy, already paid out grants will not be reclaimed if they have been used accordingly on the agreed conditions. This however is based on the condition that the DFFF (Deutscher Filmförderfonds) is also inclined to to ease its distribution obligations.

• Deferment of payment of due repayments. In the case of a time shift in the distribution and in the case of the cancellation of physical distribution due to the pandemy, already paid out grants will not be reclaimed.

• Deferment of payment of loan claims and open levy payments. Stop of open dunning procedures

• In the case of a time shift in the distribution of works: grants can be claimed on a later basis when the works is distributed; already paid out grants will not be reclaimed; due grants will be paid.

• In the case of locally or timed interruption of production: approved grants can be claimed later; due fundings will be paid. 

• In the case of locally or timed interruption of production: increased costs due to the pandemic will be paid on a pro-rata basis, limited to 30% of the beforehand calculated production costs

• Recognition of own contributions in every legally possible scope

• Simplified notification procedure for live streaming of cultural or religious events and educational programmes to maintain social participation during the Corona crisis (In German broadcasting law, certain live streams fall under the term broadcasting and require a license)

• As part of the FFA Corona emergency aid program, the deferrals of the film fee for the cinemas will be extended until December 31, 2020 . The sales generated by operating drive-in theaters are an exception.  The regulation on deferral also applies to loan repayments , i.e. deferrals already granted will also be automatically extended until December 31, 2020.

• The Danish Ministry of Culture announced an agreement to set aside EUR 12 million to offset the impact of the coronavirus on the country’s audiovisual industry. The funds, collected through the local TV licence fee revenue surplus, will be distributed as follows: EUR 8.7m to strengthen the national broadcaster’s public-service offerings; EUR 2.3m for the Danish Film Institute, to cover additional costs generated by the health crisis and to ensure the funding of an undiminished number of Danish films in the coming years; EUR 400 000 to two regional film funds, namely the West Danish Film Fund and FilmFyn; and finally, EUR 700 000 to compensate for the losses incurred by film and TV outfits on productions made without Danish Film Institute funding.

• Koda supports its members in their requests for compensation for loss of income from fees due to the coronavirus crisis from the various existing aid funds, in particular through the publication of an accompanying guide, which helps members to calculate an estimate of the loss to be used in their application.

• The Danish Musicians' Union has decided that members who are particularly affected by the corona crisis can apply for a 50% quota reduction in the period 1 April to 30 June.

• A new compensation scheme has been created for seasonal self-employed workers and artists whose main activity is strongly affected by the ban on major events.  With the new scheme, the maximum compensation amount is raised to DKK 37,000 per month. At the same time, the requirement for revenue reduction is raised from 30% to 50%. 

• "Danske Dramatikere", a professional organization for playwrights and screenwriters,  has created an FAQ about help packages
  and compensation schemes available for self-employed and freelancers.

• From a temporary force majeure fund, the association grants a number of work scholarships for professional film, television, theatre and games authors with documented rights to at least one work the opportunity to work on the development of new ideas during the crown crisis. The scholarship is intended to be distributed in particular to authors whose future work will be or is already affected by the corona crisis.

• 20 March - Small taxpayers in Denmark will be able to consolidate their first and second quarter Value Added Tax returns to help alleviate the admin and cash flow payments during the COVID-19 crisis. Denmark will also temporarily postpone by one month payment deadlines of VAT for companies above DKK 50 million turnover.

• In Denmark, cinemas open since 21 May 2020. Re-opening conditions: movigoers will be limited to 50 people per screen.

• The ministry of culture has produced the "Guidelines for reopening cultural productions and cultural events with a seated audience" for the reopening of seated ‘cultural events’, as Denmark lifts its restrictions on venues such as theatres, concert halls and cinemas.

• Publication of guidelines for resuming film and television productions. The guidelines are in accordance with the recommendations from the Danish health authorities and must be updated regularly.
• They have been endorsed by the Producers 'Association, the Film and Television Workers' Association, the Danish Journalists 'Association, the Danish Actors' Association and the Danish Film Directors, and are supported by the West Danish Film Fund and FilmFyn.

• Danish Film Directors have supported the development of a special Online platform called "Video tutorials in a corona-age” which is a learning platform that provides free teaching and learning for directors and others who are currently send home due to the corona crisis. 

• CPH:DOX partnered with Festival Scope to roll out digitally by making an online programme available for a local audience, highlighting a selection of this year’s best Danish and international titles and by having the six competition programmes judged online by the appointed juries as well as reviewed and covered by Danish and international film critics.

• Introduction of a new compensation aid of an estimated DKK 180 million for the media for the loss of advertising income in the period 9 March to 8 June 2020. The aid is intended for print and digital news media, periodicals and magazines and commercial radio stations, which will be compensated up to 60 % of the loss of income if advertising income has decreased by 30-50 %, and up to 80 % if they have lost 50-100 % of their advertising income. 

• The Agency for Culture and Palaces SLKS has set up a special page with a direct link from the home page, gathering all information on compensation schemes, initiatives and measures taken by the Ministry of Culture for the media, cultural and educational institutions, as well as a telephone number and e-mail address.

• On-line broadcasting of concerts: Koda has lowered prices for live concert broadcasts in light of the coronavirus crisis to support composers, songwriters and organizers. In addition, these concerts are broadcast free of charge and without advertising to consumers.

• The Ministry of Culture gives Danish cultural institutions the opportunity to have their state operating grants paid out earlier than planned. 

• Extension of company payment deadlines regarding VAT, A-tax and labour market contributions

• Companies can set employees down on time for a temporary period, and employees can then receive supplementary unemployment benefit.

• Companies, self-owned institutions, foundations and associations can apply for salary compensation. These will be covered if they receive less than half of the institutions' ordinary operating expenses in public support.

• Compensation for organizers who in March cancelled or postponed events with +1,000 participants and events of less than 1,000 participants, which targeted specific COVID-19 risk groups, eg. elderly or healthily vulnerable.

• Self-employed and freelancers in the cultural industry who experience a minimum 30 percent drop in their turnover can receive compensation. 

• All media support for 2020 is paid as quickly as possible in one overall installment rather than over three installments during 2020. In total, the media in April will receive a total of DKK 368.1 million. instead of DKK 119.4 million. DKK in editorial production support.

• Creation of new Corona hotline by the Ministry of Culture and the Danish National Palace and Culture Agency. 

• The non-commercial local radio and television stations are exempted from the requirement that each station is required to submit new content every week. This is done by making the necessary changes to the respective executive orders.

• The Minister of Culture has proposed amendments to the Radio and Television Act, which will ensure the formal basis for postponing the planned transition to a new antenna TV signal from 31 March 2020 to 2 June 2020. The proposal is expected to be adopted on 31. March 2020.
• Up to 150,000 Danes would lose the TV signal on March 31, if they had failed to acquire the right receiving equipment. As planned, DR and Boxer were to start broadcasting antenna TV on some new signals and closing down the current ones. 

• Small marketing grants for films released directly on digital platforms.

• In response to budgetary concerns, the Danish Film Institute ewill grant bursaries of less than 150,000 Danish crowns (€20,000) only within in the next 14 days, and these will be solely for script-development purposes. The institute will also consider the approval of small marketing grants for films released on digital platforms, owing to cinema closures. In terms of cancelled events and film launches, current guidelines will be applied, but costs already incurred will not be reclaimed. Finally, the organisation expressed its will to support the completion of cancelled and postponed productions as best it can.

• No repayment to the Danish Film Institutes for events cancelled.

• Additional calls for proposals will be open for music and film to alleviate the effects of the coronavirus crisis. The money that was not distributed from the first application rounds will be distributed. The total amount of the aid package is EUR 2 million.

• The Estonian Government announced the revised state Budget for 2021-2024. The Estonian Film Institute, the country’s film agency, will receive an additional EUR 3 million to invest in new productions in 2021. The provision is part of a wider aid package aimed at helping the country’s cultural and creative industries.

• The Estonian Government approved an additional application round for applicants in the field of music as well as film at the expense of the money not allocated from the first application rounds. The total size of the support package is EUR 2 million.

• In the new revised budget strategy for the years 2021-2024, the Estonian government laid out the outlines of a significant aid package aimed at supporting the country's cultural and creative industries. Concerning the film industry, the EFI will receive an additional EUR 3 million to invest in new productions from 2021. So from January 2021, the total production funding will be EUR 7 million per year. 

• The Estonian Film Institute will distribute EUR 1.3 m as compensation measures to face the challenges in the film sector caused by the COVID-19. Of the 1.3 m EUR, 800,000 EUR goes to support art house cinemas and companies whose production and distribution activities have been interrupted due to the emergency situation. 

• The Estonian Film Institute will distribute EUR 1.3 m as compensation measures to face the challenges in the film sector caused by the COVID-19. Of the 1.3 m EUR, 500,000 EUR goes to film productions.

• The Estonian Film Institute collected information from the government and the Health Board and put together these guidelines to be followed during the Covid-19 outbreak in order to, despite the current circumstances, maintain a working film industry whilst preventing the spread of the virus.

• The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) has introduced a VAT payment delay for taxpayers until 1 May 2020. Value Added Tax will not have to be paid, but returns must be submitted as normal. In addition, all VAT audits and assessments are suspended. The measure is designed to help businesses suffering as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

• Cinema and other indoor events of up to maximum 500 people can take place again from July 1st, 2020.

• The Cultural Endowment Board decided that, as an emergency measure, the County's endowment funds and panels could provide special bursaries to support creative people and also provide money for medical support. The county expert groups have a special scholarship limit of up to EUR 500 and the endowments can provide support of up to EUR 2,000 per person.

• State funds will be used to support businesses through KredEx (a foundation set up by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in 2001 with the aim of providing financial solutions based on the best practices in the world), including: 
• EUR 1 billion for bank loans already issued in order to allow for repayment schedule adjustments
• business loans amounting to EUR 500 million
• investment loans amounting to EUR 50 million

• The EAÜ helps self-employed creators who have lost their income to apply to the government for support under the Act on Creative Persons and Societies.

• Help for the payment of self-employed persons' social tax to help cope with the economic difficulties of the crisis.

• Payment of compensation to employees whose employer is severely disrupted by extraordinary circumstances. The benefit provides workers with income and helps employers overcome temporary.

• The Culture and Sport Crisis Package totals EUR 25 million, with the Ministry of Culture seeking to ensure the sustainability of cultural organizations. The supplementary budget seeks to cover their inevitable costs and to support freelance artists, coaches and folk culture leaders. The package is divided into two: supporting the subsistence of cultural and sporting individuals (total amount of EUR 5.2 million) and partly compensating already incurred costs and unavoidable fixed costs of interruption of events and organizations in the field of culture and sport (total amount of EUR 19.8 million) 

• Support to festivals organisation budget increased by EUR 249 000 to a total of EUR 889 000, 20,3% up from 2019 and doubling the number of beneficiaries.

• The Government has approved the 3rd Social Agreement for Maintaining the Employment, which extends the Temporary Employment Regulation (ERTE) until 31 January 2021. The Minister of Culture and Sports declared that enterprises specially covered are cultural and cinematographic ones.

• Support to festivals organisation budget increased by EUR 249 000 to a total of EUR 889 000, 20,3% up from 2019 and doubling the number of beneficiaries.

• The Council of Ministers authorises ICAA to publish the feature film Projects production call (Order CUD/582/2020) endowed with EUR 40 million. As a specific measure to deal with the economic impact of COVID-19, the percentage that producers may receive as a first payment is increased from 20% to 40%, offsetting with the second payment that goes from 50% to 30%, to provide the company with liquidity so that it can more easily start the production phase.

• The Senate has approved its first institutional declaration of a text with which the Chamber calls on the Government to declare culture as an "essential good " for its prominent role in the country's recovery from the effects of the pandemic, which will be read in the plenary session that began on 23 September 2020.

• "Royal Decree 17/2020:
  The temporary exception of films allowed for direct release on online platforms without affecting their status as cinematographic films has been extended to January 31st, 2021."

• The Council of Ministers authorises ICAA to publish the feature films projects' production call (Order CUD/582/2020) endowed with EUR 40 million. As a specific measure to deal with the economic impact of COVID-19, the percentage that producers may receive as a first payment is increased from 20% to 40%, offsetting with the second payment that goes from 50% to 30%, to provide the company with liquidity so that it can more easily start the production phase.

Collective Management Organisations (CMOs)

• DAMA has conducted a survey to assess the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the audiovisual sector.

• The CNMC has centralised in a mailbox all complaints and queries related exclusively to the application of competition rules in the context of Covid19. This is a specific channel for any complaints about anti-competitive behaviour in the current context of the pandemic.

• As part of the second special edition of the Catalan Audiovisual Information Bulletin (BIAC), CAC conducted a survey on television and Internet consumption during confinement, informative content and the level of public confidence in the information received.

• The Catalan Audiovisual Council (CAC ), within the framework of the eduCAC program, and the Alt Empordà Education Service of the Department of Education have drawn up recommendations for the responsible use of video calls in educational institutions. The measures include elements of behaviour in front of the camera, as well as restrictions on the image rights of classmates and teachers.

• The CAC has launched a campaign with 20 experts within the framework of the eduCAC program to reflect on the lessons learned from the intensive use of electronic devices during confinement.  

• The CAA will prepare a report on Canal Sur TV's informative treatment of the coronavirus health crisis. The objective of the study is to verify the impartiality, neutrality and pluralism of the coverage given by the autonomous public chain to the pandemic

• Publication of a good practices guide for safe shootings for audiovisual productions in times of Covid-19 by the Spain Film Commission.

• March. Spain announced VAT and other tax payment holiday for small businesses who apply for relief for the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. The scheme is not available for large businesses (above EUR 6m turnover) or if the Value Added Tax due is above EUR 30m. 

• 25 May - emergency Value Added Tax filing deadline postponment measures are to be withdrawn on 1-4 June 2020.

• The regional government of Madrid (Comunidad de Madrid) announced that all audiovisual grants will be maintained and that support to Development will be increased by 50%, reaching EUR 750 000. Support to development, only dedicated to feature fiction projects until 2019, now applies also to series (animation, fiction or documentary)

• ICAA resumes on June 1st, 2020 the computation of the administrative deadlines suspended by the State of Alarm (March 14).

• ICAA provides Safety and hygiene measures that allow activity to be resumed in movie theaters in Phases 2 and 3 of the "Plan for the transition to a new normality".

• ICAA provides Safety and hygiene measures to resume audiovisual productions in Phase 1 of the "Plan for the transition to a new normality".

• Cinemas are allowed to reopen from Phase II of descalation at 1/3 capacity  (starting May 25 but date varying by regions) but most theatrical exhibitors are aligned for a national reopening at 1/2 capacity when the country will reach phase III, foreseen on June 26, 2020.

• Content analysis report on YouTube and social networks that promote products of supposed curative effectiveness of COVID-19: the CAC has identified and requested the remove of 16 videos. 14 were removed.

• The CAC has launched a new campaign to promote responsible screen use during the health-related lockdown. The campaign comprises two new animated videos and two radio adverts: one on using screens well for online learning and another on safety on social media.

• ICEC increases by EUR 5.7 million its support to audiovisual, reaching EUR 17.2 million in 2020. The lines improving their budget are animation production (from EUR 1,3 million to EUR 2.5 million) and feature film production (50% increase).

• ICEC has created a new funding scheme, endowed with EUR 1.2 million, to support catalan minority co-productions and promote international collaborations. 

• Decree-Law 13/2020, officially published on BOJA on May 18, on extraordinary measures to, among other, reactivate the cultural sector. Line 1 of measures includes a new emergency fund for scriptwriters (with at least 2 previous scripts premiered as feature or TV series) of a maximum EUR 3 000. Applications will open in June 2020. An 80 pages (min.) script is required 6 months after support is received.

• Decree-Law 13/2020, officially published on BOJA on May 18, on extraordinary measures to, among other, reactivate the cultural sector. Line 2 of measures includes a new emergency fund for cinema owners: EUR 3 000 per screen with 75 seats or more, and a maximum grant of EUR 90 000 (30 screens). Applications will open in June 2020.

• Catalan Finantial institute (ICF) and ICEC have created the ICF Cultura Liquiditat loan line, endowed with 10 million euros. This line allows companies in the audiovisual sector to apply for zero interest loans of between EUR 20 000 and 300 000, with a repayment period of 5 years and a grace period of one year. ICEC assumes 80% of the risk of operations.

• ICEC will open in June an extraordinary grant line, endowed with EUR 8 million, to compensate for the running costs of companies and cultural entities during COVID-19 (structural expenses such as salaries, rents or mortgages, expenses for supplies, taxes and professional fees for those companies that have had to process an ERTE, as well as the costs of adapting their premises to the health requirements set by the relevant authorities for the post-COVID-19 period). Officially published on May 21st.

• ICEC has made all the procedures of its subsidy lines more flexible in order to meet the current needs of the sector: line resolutions have been advanced to finance the working needs of companies and entities in the sector; all subsidy lines will be approved and convened in May and June, before the usual period; relaxation in the minimum theatrical screens exhibition requirement; etc.

• The ICAA publishes a Good Practice Guide on Special Measures for Audiovisual Productions in the Face of the COVID Pandemic19 , in connection with the regulations approved by the Ministry of Health for de-escalation in the field of filming. 

• Plan for the Transition towards a new normality. Annex II.(Guidance forecast for the lifting of the national limitations established in the State of Alarm, and transition phases towards a new normality) allows the start of shooting from Phase I and the limited reopening of cinemas (1/3 then 1/2 capacity) from Phase II.

• The regional Government of Madrid (Comunidad de Madrid) has injected EUR 1 million into the Guarantee Society Crea SGR (Sociedad de Garantía Recíproca Audiovisual Fianzas SGR) to guarantee access of SMEs in the cultural sector to funding. Crea SGR will promote, in collaboration with the financial entities that wish to participate, lines of financing aimed at companies in the cultural sector for a total amount of EUR 20 million. Support per company from EUR 20 000 to EUR 100 000.

• Regulations for next edition of Goya Awards are exceptionally relaxed to accommodate the films that were scheduled to be released in theaters and have been forced to do so in streaming, as a result of the closing of theaters caused by Covid-19.

• Galician regional public broadcaster (CRTVG) is supporting companies by: keeping the core programming (and thus the hundreds of workers' and service providers' contracts); contracting new audiovisual products which have emerged in the crisis (educational, social, cultural); reinforcing web services with music concerts; etc.

• Galician regional public broadcaster (CRTVG) is improving conditions for companies with supported projects for (co)production: payment delays are being reduced.

• Galician regional public broadcaster (CRTVG) is supporting companies by increasing the investment in local productions, specifically Galician documentaries produced without the support of CRTVG.

• Galician regional public broadcaster (CRTVG) is accepting projects from local companies for the production of: one documentary on the coronavirus (offering priviledged access to the channel's archives); and the production of audiovisual versions (shot in studio) of recent Galician theater plays.

• Galician regional public broadcaster (CRTVG) is relaxating conditions for companies with supported projects for (co)production: procedures can be managed digitally; deliveries can be postponed; selection process and contract formalization are accelerated in order to allow companies to use confinement time in pre-production of projects.

• For a period of two years from the entry into force of Royal Decree 17/2020, the minimum percentages of amounts collected by CMOs that are pending allocation (provided for in Article 177.6 of the revised text of the Intellectual Property Law), may modified by the CMOs.

Royal Decree 17/2020

• Deadlines are extended for communicating final costs, for delivering master copy, for commercial release of the film and for reporting incomes from commercial distribution.

• Number of minimum screens demanded decreased. Decrease of minimum amount demanded to be invested in P&A.

• With the aim of attracting more international productions, shooting, promoting co-productions and increasing the activity of the audiovisual industry in Spain, registered producers will be entitled to an increased tax deduction for expenses incurred in Spain: a) 30% with respect to the first million base of the deduction and b) 25% over the excess of said amount. The maximum deductible amount is increased from EUR 3 million to EUR 10 million.

• Extraordinary access to unemployment benefits to artists (intermittent workers) for a period of up to 180 days, depending on the period of occupation listed in the previous year. 

• Update October 2010: 3 proposal lists for funding published in ICAA's website.
• Update August 2020: Applicarions now open. Royal Decree 17/2020
• An Extraordinary Social Fund of EUR 13,252,000 has been created to support cinematographic exhibition in movie theaters and compensate losses.This aid is intended to cover the following costs incurred by cinemas in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis:
• a) Incidental costs generated as a result of the health measures adopted. Among others, implementation of a risk prevention plan for workers and the public, disinfection, purchase of material - masks, gloves, disinfectant soap, screens - or specific signage, among other elements and actions necessary for the protection and safety of persons
• b) Campaigns aimed at the reopening and return of the public to the cinemas.
• c) Actions to increase the programming of school campaigns.
• d) Advertising space for the promotion and trailer of Spanish cinema in cinemas, as well as institutional campaigns.

• Payment of eligible expenses carried out even when the projects or activities have not been able to be pursued, totally or partially, due to the COVID19. In turn, professionals in the artistic sector will be able to receive advances and compensation in case of postponement or cancellation of the actions contracted with the public sector, provided that the contracts do not exceed EUR 50,000.

• The Ministry of Culture and Sports will inject EUR 20 million into the Guarantee Society Crea SGR (Sociedad de Garantía Recíproca Audiovisual Fianzas SGR) to guarantee access of SMEs in the cultural sector to funding. Crea SGR will promote, in collaboration with the financial entities that wish to participate, the following lines of financing aimed at companies in the cultural sector for a total amount of EUR 780 million:
• Audiovisual Line.
• Performing Arts Line.
• Music Industry Line.
• Book Industry Line.
• Fine Arts Line.
• Other companies in the cultural sector line.
• Each line will finance projects in its own field and will receive a minimum amount of EUR 40 million.

• As an exception to ordinary provisions, grant recipients for the production of feature films will receive, upon request, 50% of the aid granted without the need to have communicated the start of filming to the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts, or the competent regional body.

• Films allowed for direct release on online platforms, including grant beneficiaries requiring a mandatory theatrical release and without affecting their status as cinematographic films.This temporary exception runs until 31 August 2020.

• As part of its EduCAC programme, the Catalan Audiovisual Council (CAC) has launched an audiovisual campaign to combat misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to encourage the responsible use of screens during the lockdown.

• AISGE offers advances to its members, the amount of which depends on the income that candidates have received from AISGE over the last three years. In the first two weeks of the pandemic, the advances paid by AISGE amounted to EUR 500 000.

• AISGE has set up a dedicated page "Covid19 - AISGE Foundation 2020 social assistance programmes" and a hotline to inform its members of the support measures available to them (both from AISGE and/or its Foundation and from the public sector), as well as to assist them with any request for support or specific aid measures.

• Basic Needs Project: AISGE provides a benefit linked to an individualised follow-up programme proposed by the team of social workers, which consists of financial assistance for social protection for people who have no income or whose low income does not allow them to cover their basic needs. The amount of this emergency benefit is EUR 406 per month on average, and it is applied for a limited period of time: three or six months depending on actual needs as verified by the team of social workers.

• EUR 8.5 million was allocated by the AISGE Foundation to finance economic and social assistance projects for AISGE members (actors, dancers, dubbing actors, directors and other audiovisual performers) who are in need or are particularly vulnerable to the economic impact of COVID19 , irrespective of their age and/or the income received by AISGE in previous years.

• Program for the elderly: Social intervention and financial support project consisting of a monthly allowance for beneficiaries over 65 years of age and beneficiaries between 60 and 65 years of age who have pensioner status. The financial support varies from EUR 100.00 to EUR 590.00 per month. 

• AISGE has decided to invest in quality training and retraining projects adapted to the current situation (network projects, with the possibility of interaction with teachers and other students, etc.) in order to improve the group's vocational training to facilitate their employability as soon as possible. To this end, various courses are already being developed for all the Foundation's beneficiaries regardless of their place of residence.

• "Our Elder, Our Priority": The AISGE Foundation has launched a solidariy program for the most aged members of AISGE, securing them the delivery of medicines and food at their home.

• Directorate-General for Culture of the Canary Islands has launched a package of measures to support the cultural sector, with a budget of EUR 2.6 million, which includes the creation of 2 calls for creative projects in the fields of culture: one call of EUR 700,000 addressed to the professionals of the cultural industry, and another call of EUR 100,000 for initiatives by individuals dedicated to culture. Both will be managed by the public company Canarias Cultura en Red, which will be in charge of publishing the rules and organizing the selection process.

• Self-employed workers registred under the Special Scheme for Workers Self-employed (RETA) and are affected by suspension of activities fell by 75% can be accredit based on the annual average.

• Directorate-General for Culture of the Canary Islands has launched a package of measures to support the cultural sector, with a budget of EUR 2.6 million, which includes the creation of a line of subsidies aimed at financing operating expenses as well as those derived from the cancellation or suspension of cultural activities as a result of the state of alarm, with an endowment of EUR 1,500,000.

• The Consejo Audiovisual de Andalucía (audiovisual regulator for Andalusia, CAA) calls on the media to be responsible and rigorous in their reporting of alleged shortages in supermarkets, in particular by asking to avoid dramatic and unnecessary repetition of alarmist images.

• ICAA, Academia del Cine, Asociación Cultural Española and Netflix announced on April 15, 2020 the creation of a new emergency fund with the aim of providing short-term emergency support to the workers and crews of the Spanish audiovisual industry directly affected by the crisis linked to the Coronavirus. Netflix makes available EUR 1 million to the Spanish organisations, who will handle the fund jointly.  Update July 2020: 774 beneficiaries supported..

• The SGAE will advise the most vulnerable authors in the request for public support for COVID-19, in order to help them understand and, if necessary, request from the different corresponding administrations the public aid that is being mobilised as a result of the current health emergency. In addition, the SGAE also offered its support to the Spanish administrations responsible for creating support measures for authors and publishers.

• The SGAE has increased its already existing aid fund of EUR 8 million by EUR 7 million for the financial and social support of its members. One of these measures is the creation of a special fund, which provides aid of up to EUR 3 000 to support SGAE members who are seriously affected by the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and by the cessation of professional activity and who, because of their characteristics, cannot benefit from other aid or support services provided by SGAE.

• The SGAE has increased its already existing aid fund of EUR 8 million by EUR 7 million for the financial and social support of its members. One of these measures is aimed at the most vulnerable members threatened by social exclusion and takes the form of the possibility to apply for loans and advances, under the conditions laid down in the SGAE regulation. In addition, the company offers members an instant loan line, equivalent to 30 % of the last payment made.

• Emotional solidarity between members: A member volunteering initiative has been created, consisting of telephone support for older members who experience isolation and loneliness during confinement.

• Social Measures - Meals on Wheels Service for Seniors at Risk:This service will ensure the delivery of meals to the homes of our senior members during the alert period. Members over 70 years of age who live alone or with dependants can request this assistance by e-mail.

• The qualification of Films and Audiovisual works can be done digitally (no physical presence needed) from April 8, 2020.

• Royal Decree-Law 11/2020, of 31 March, adopting additional urgent measures to address the economic and social impact of COVID-19: Application of the extraordinary measures on employment commitment (commitment by the company to maintain employment for a period of 6 months from the date of resumption of activity) Royal Decree-Law 8/2020 to companies in the performing arts, music, film and audiovisual sectors.

• Royal Decree-Law 11/2020, of 31 March, adopting additional urgent measures to address the economic and social impact of COVID-19: DTT broadcasters will receive ""temporary compensation for certain costs of compulsory population coverage"" in the form of a EUR 15 million grant provided by the government.

• Royal Decree-Law 11/2020, of 31 March, adopting additional urgent measures to address the economic and social impact of COVID-19: commercial communications that implicitly or expressly refer to the exceptional situation resulting from COVID-19 or that challenge the consumption of gambling activities in this context are prohibited.

• Royal Decree-Law 8/2020 of 17 March on extraordinary emergency measures to address the economic and social impact of COVID-19:
• Guarantee scheme to companies and self-employed to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak; 
• Article 29 enables Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation to grant up to EUR 100 billion in guarantees to private sector loans of companies and self-employed that undergo financial difficulties as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak.
• An Agreement of the Council of Ministers will develop the conditions of these guarantees and release a first tranche of up to EUR 20 billion of guarantees to cover loans and refinancing operations of self-employed and companies granted by credit institutions, financial credit establishments, electronic money entities and payment entities

• The Ministry of Education and Culture grants additional funding of EUR 5 million to the Finnish Film Foundation. The funding is intended for production subsidies for domestic films and drama series.

• 27 March - Finland is providing a range of Value Added Tax easements to help businesses cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic: late payment penalties and interest charges will be waived on overdue payments until 31 August 2020. The first repayment of delayed VAT is due by 30 November 2020, with a reduced interest charge of 4%.

• 8 May - late tax payments will be subject to a reduced late interest charge of 4% instead of 7% until 31 August.

• 25 April - Finland is to offer VAT loans during the coronavirus crises. This enables  businesses to apply for a temporary refund of VAT payments they have made on their returns in 2020. There will be an interest charge of 3%.

• GRAMEX will distribute approximately EUR 11 million in compensation by the end of April - approximately 9 000 of Gramex's direct customers will receive compensation.

• GRAMEX has offered to suspend contracts for companies suffering from the shutdown in order to avoid termination of contracts. In addition, invoicing can be postponed and deferred payment plans are possible.

• In Finland, cinemas can reopen from June 1st, with the lifting of some measures permiting gatherings of up to 50 people. The loosened restrictions serve as a recommendation for private sector.

• The Finnish Film Foundation has received 1 million euros from the Ministry of Education and Culture to help relieve the situation of cinemas during the restrictions on public gatherings caused by the Covid-19 pandemia. The aim is to secure the future operation of cinemas nationwide.

• The Finnish Film Foundation has received 1 million euros from the Ministry of Education and Culture to help relieve the situation of film festivals during the restrictions on public gatherings caused by the Covid-19 pandemia. The aim is to ensure that organizations responsible for film festivals (that have had to cancel or postpone their event during March 13 – May 31, 2020) can continue their activities.

• The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes network has announced an open call for art projects related to themes such as the state of emergency, radical change, resilience, artistic practice in the future, alone together. The project will act as a documentation of the COVID-19 crisis and gives the artists an opportunity to reflect it through the arts. The application is open to all Finnish and Finland-based professional artists who have lost work opportunities due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Institutes are commissioning projects from selected artists or artistic groups to be completed by June 30, 2020. The total grant of an individual project is between EUR 1.500–5.000.

• The Ministry of Transport and Communications will urgently launch a study on the support measures that could be introduced to sustain journalism in the exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The study will examine the need for and allocation of rapid support and the criteria for granting this support. The aim is also to determine whether entirely new forms of support are needed.

• Business Finland (the Finnish government organization for innovation funding and trade, travel and investment promotion) has provided funding for SMEs and midcap companies whose business is affected by coronavirus outbreak. This funding is specifically targeted, among others, at creative sector.

• The Ministry of Education and Culture, together with several foundations and Arts Promotion Centre Finland granted a swift assistance of EUR 1.5 million to arts and culture professionals who have been hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, via the Arts Promotion Centre (Taike). Foundations will also grant significant sums in aid through their own channels.

• The Association of Journalists, the Finnish Audiovisual Content Producers 'Advocate APFI, the Actors' Association, the Association of Theater and Media Workers Teme and the Finnish Film Foundation SES have jointly specified guidelines aimed at avoiding coronavirus infections in audiovisual productions.

• The Association of Journalists, the Finnish Audiovisual Content Producers 'Advocate APFI, the Actors' Association, the Association of Theater and Media Workers Teme and the Finnish Film Foundation SES have jointly specified guidelines aimed at avoiding coronavirus infections in audiovisual productions.

• Authors and publishers who are Teosto customers can now easily request an advance payment of their royalties. The criteria for advance payment have been extended: it can be granted if their royalties have exceeded EUR 5,000 per year over the previous two years. 

• Since many businesses and communities have moved from live performance to live broadcasting, Teosto has temporarily decided that all music licences purchased for free consumer events also include a licence for live broadcasting. Paid events require a licence. Licences may also be cancelled and modified at a later date.

• Finnish foundations, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and Arts Promotion Centre Finland are opening a new emergency fund to grant swift assistance to arts and culture professionals. Funding totalling approximately EUR 1.5 million will be apportioned during April via the Arts Promotion Centre (Taike).

• The Finnish Film Foundation will guarantee flexibility in terms of the timetables for support use and reporting, inviting recipients to notify it of changes in a timely manner.

• The movement restrictions imposed in the Region of Uusimaa do not apply to essential work-related travel and have no impact whatsoever on the work of media. Efforts have also been made to ensure reasonable working conditions for the media at Government press conferences by sharing live stream links and photographs for general use. Arrangements have also been made with the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE and the Finnish News Agency STT/Lehtikuva to ensure that all media have access to live broadcasts and photographs free of charge. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease, media are no longer invited to press conferences. Instead, technical facilities are provided that enable journalists to ask questions directly over a video service.

LINK

• French public broadcaster France Télévisions is launching Culturebox, an ephemeral cultural channel to support culture, accessible including on TNT. The channel is meant to be operational during the COVID crisis and will be launched after the approval by CSA, the French media regulator.

• "The senators adopted an amendment upgrading the film tax credit for 2021  by including in particular the following provisions:
• a temporary increase in the rate of the tax credit from 30% to 40% for cinematographic works relating solely to expenses incurred in the 2021 fiscal year
• an extension until December 31, 2024 of the tax credit for film and audiovisual production expenses."

• To accompany the emergence of Livestreams practices during the period of confinement and assembly restrictions, Sacem is setting up an exceptional copyright remuneration specially adapted to the distribution of Livestreams. On 30 June, Sacem decided to extend this measure until 31 August. 

• Sacem creates an emergency fund for composers of music for the image, with the financial support of the CNC. The new emergency fund is open to all composers who have contributed to the music of at least one short, feature film, documentary or series & TV supported by the CNC. This support will take into account the income earned between March and December 2020 and may amount to up to EUR 1500 per month over this period, depending on the drop in income observed.

• Aware of the difficulties encountered by these establishments despite the resumption of their activity last May, Sacem announces a new suspension of invoicing and levies for all those of its customers who have to implement administrative measures of closure or restricted opening in the 54 departments concerned by the curfew. These measures will apply from the official date of the passage into the curfew zone and will extend for seven days following the end of this period.

• Sacem is once again putting in place - for the entire duration of the Fall 2020 confinement and automatically - specific accompanying measures with its partners (event organisers, places broadcasting music to the public, etc.) :
• suspension of all copyright billing
• suspension of automated withdrawals from bank accounts
• suspension of contracts for the period of closure imposed by the public authorities for all permanent operations in which sound or background music is broadcast
• suspension of penalties (for non-payment on time) until 1 December.

• Compensation fund for loss of cinema theater revenue: EUR 100 million, intended for all theaters and cinemas. Half of this envelope, i.e. EUR 50 million, is allocated to cinemas that have suffered a loss of at least 30% in turnover and will compensate for a portion of the losses in ticketing revenue over the period from September 1 to December 31. 2020.

• CNC’s indemnity fund (EUR 50m) aimed at protecting shootings. Started as a public fund accessible to all film shoots revived or initiated since 11 May 2020; expenses incurred by French or majority French productions which are forced to halt filming for reasons relating to COVID-19 will be covered up to the value of 20% of their insured capital, with a ceiling of €1.2m.

• Payment of financial support to cinemas with "difficult programmes" (EUR 1,7m).

• Grants to events and festivals cancelled due to health reasons will be integrally maintained in their aproved amounts (EUR 8,3m)

• Postponement of the April payment by exhibitors of the tax on cinema tickets.

• French Prime Minister announced an endowment of EUR 165m for the CNC, EUR 60m of which is intended to fill the financial hole created by the crisis within the support fund (which producers can dip into so as to initiate new projects). The remaining EUR 105m will be spent on targeted support measures,  with a particular emphasis on cinema operators.

• Doubling of the COVID-19 guarantee for film and series shoots (announced by the Ministry of Culture in May 2020): a pool
  of French mutual insurers offers an insurance solution in addition to the public fund. A pool of private French mutual insurers
  now offer access to a higher level of guarantee for filming, with a reinforced commitment to a total of 1.8 million euros and
  30% of the estimate (doubling the compensation capacity and bringing it up to EUR 100 million).

Link to source document

• The Fédération Nationale des Cinémas Français has published a health guide for reopening cinemas during the coronavirus
  epidemic.

• SGDL has set up a special page, "Covid19 - Information Kit for Authors", containing information on the support measures in
  place for authors.

Link to source document

• Public broadcaster France Télévisions has adopted a supporting program for audiovisual production industry, including cash-
  flow strengthening (shortage of term of payment from 60 days to 30 days), supporting a share of production extra-costs, and
  extending film-making time schedule.

• To support young people's return to artistic and cultural practices, the Ministry of National Education and Youth and the Ministry
  of Culture have launched a platform to enable artists and all cultural professionals to propose projects during the summer
  throughout France.

• Amending Finance Bill No. 3074 for 2020 (Article 3): Exceptional reduction in the 2020 business property tax for the benefit of
  small and medium-sized companies in the tourism, hotel, restaurant, sports, culture, air transport and events sectors particularly
  affected by the health crisis.

• Amending Finance Bill No. 3074 for 2020 (Article 18): Exemption from employers' contributions, assistance with the payment
  of contributions, debt forgiveness and clearance plans for companies affected by the health crisis. 

• The Ministry of Culture has carried out a study on the economic impact of the crisis on the cultural and creative sectors, including
  the audiovisual and cinema sectors,  in order to assess the extent of financial losses and the consequences of the confinement
  on employment in the short and long term. 

• The CSA conducted a study to determine whether inequalities in the representation of women and men in the audiovisual
  media increased during the crisis related to the Covid-19 epidemic.

• In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, the CCHSCTs of the audiovisual and film/advertising production sector have drawn up a
  "Guide to health safety recommendations for audiovisual and film/advertising production activities". Intended for professionals,
  it proposes a common base of preventive measures necessary for the resumption of activity and filming.

• Partial unemployment: The French government has set up a partial unemployment scheme adapted to the crisis. A company
  impacted by the crisis may apply for a partial activity allowance for one or more employees unable to work as provided for, and
  will pay an allowance equal to 70% of gross salary or 100% for employees on minimum wage, and will be fully reimbursed by
  the State. As of 1 June 2020, the State and Unedic will pay 85% of the indemnity paid to the employee (instead of 100%).

• March - France has offered direct tax deferment measures. However, Value Added Tax returns must still be filed on time for the
  time being.
• Update 27 March: VAT credit repayments will be accelerated for requests filed electronically.

• 8 April update - Scanned, PDF or other electronic formats of paper invoices will be acceptable formats for VAT deduction and
  audit trail evidence during the coronavirus crisis. 

• 1 May - France has extended the deadline for non-EU businesses to submit their VAT recovery claims from 30 June to 30
  September.

• 10 April update - France continues not to provide a VAT filing or payment deferment, setting it aside from most other
  European countries. However, it is offering a discount on VAT payments for the next two months’ returns for businesses in
  difficulties. 

• The INA has measured the airtime devoted to Covid-19. The analysis focused on the beginnings of media coverage, the
  means deployed by the media to continue to produce information, local media initiatives to support solidarity, and a study of
  whether the confinement had changed the way viewers obtain information. 

• The Ministry of Culture has issued a list of recommendations and guidelines to assist and support cultural organizations in
  their resumption of activities and reopening to the public.  For the organization of open-air cinema screenings, a guide
  developed in collaboration with the CNC provides the legal framework and guidelines to specify the conditions under which
  applications for authorization of open-air cinema screenings at the initiative of exhibitors or third parties are examined.

• The Ministry of Culture has issued a list of recommendations and guidelines to assist and support cultural organizations in their resumption of activities and reopening to the public. This includes a guide containing legal and practical recommendations for
  the resumption of filming in France.

• The Ministry of Culture has issued a list of recommendations and guidelines to assist and support cultural organizations in
  their resumption of activities and reopening to the public. This includes a guide setting out health safety recommendations
  and guidelines for the resumption of activities under the Collective Agreement on the Production of Animated Films.

• The Ministry of Culture has issued a list of recommendations and guidelines to assist and support cultural structures and
  organizations in their resumption of activities and reopening to the public. This includes a guide to health safety
  recommendations for the reopening of cinemas during the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic.

• COVID-19: SCPP 2020 SUPPORT PLAN: The SCPP (Société Civile des Producteurs Phonographiques) is launching a
  support plan worth EUR 9 million for its members. The support plan comprises two parts: financial aid exclusively for
  independent producers, amounting to EUR 5.2 million, and support for creation to encourage the relaunch of the activity
  after the confinement, amounting to EUR 3.8 million. 

• The Centre National de la Musique has set up an emergency fund with an endowment dedicated to SMEs in the performing
  arts sector. Endowed with EUR 11.5 million, the emergency fund is topped up by the National Music Centre to the tune of EUR
  10 million, and by SACEM, ADAMI and SPEDIDAM to the tune of EUR 500 000 each. In addition, Spotify France has decided
  to support this Relief Fund through the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project which allows to make a donation to support artists.

• In order to support record dealers, distributors and phonographic producers who are experiencing major economic difficulties
  due to the closure of sales outlets for physical carriers of recorded music, as well as publishers, a Recorded Music Relief Fund
  of EUR 1 million has been created by the Centre National de la Musique, thanks to an endowment from the General Directorate
  of Media and Cultural Industries (DGMIC) of the Ministry of Culture.

• Covid 19 - Relaxation of the rules of the 2020 support plan: The SCPP has decided to relax the general rules of the SCPP
  2020 support plan in order to allow a greater number of its members to benefit from this assistance.

• With regard to the collection of entertainment tax, the National Music Centre is suspending all operations to collect and
  recover the tax on variety shows. The taxpayers who have sent the establishment a cheque or a transfer authorization
  before the entry into force of this article will not be cashed and no increase will be applied to them until further notice.

• The grants already allocated by the centre will be paid even in case of cancellation of the event. An assessment of the operation
  will be carried out at a later date and the president of the establishment will be able to ask for the aid to be repaid when the
  company's situation permits and after the Commission has given its opinion.

• Theatres will be able to reopen all over the territory from June 22, following the demand of the cinema operators who wanted
  the reopening to be national so that they could organize the programming of theatres.

• Covid-19: new specific distribution for livestreams: Sacem is setting up an exceptional copyright remuneration specially
  adapted to the distribution of livestreams during this period of crisis. The new specific distribution consists in using the
  sums collected from the platforms concerned to remunerate the livestreams.

• The resumption of filming is authorized in the city of Paris with the following criteria: maximum 50-person crew, prohibition
  of filming in certain places, compliance with health measures in force. 

• Audiens has set up for freelance journalists a request for exceptional one-off assistance, which is lighter and will be treated
  as a priority. 

• Audiens has set up for artists and intermittent show technicians faced with cancellations of fees or days of work, a request for
  exceptional one-off assistance, which is lighter and will be treated as a priority. 

• Creation of a compensation fund for film shooting: The President of the Republic has confirmed the creation of a compensation
  fund for filming of more than EUR 50 million, on which discussions are under way between the Ministry of Culture and the CNC,
  which should make it possible to resolve the problem of insurance for the resumption of filming. 

• Blank year for the intermittent show business until the end of August 2021: The President of the Republic has announced a
  "blank year " for intermittent entertainment workers, which consists in extending the rights of intermittent artists and technicians
  for one year beyond the 6 months when their activity will have been impossible or very degraded, i.e. until the end of
  August 2021.

• The SACD has set up a guide summarising the assistance available and the steps to be taken for authors in difficulty during the
  Covid-19 health crisis.

• The CSA has published a barometer on the effects of the health crisis on the audiences of audiovisual groups and on the
  advertising market. This barometer will be updated on a bimonthly basis and will include new indicators in its next edition to
  monitor the consumption of subscription-based video-on-demand services.

• SACD Emergency Fund Audiovisual, Cinema, Animation, Web: This emergency fund created by the SACD, with the financial
  support of the National Cinema Centre (CNC), is dedicated to authors of audiovisual, cinematographic, animation and web
  creations. Its main purpose is to provide the authors of these works, who do not benefit from aid from the National Solidarity
  Fund or a partial unemployment measure of EUR 1500 or more, with aid to enable them to cope with the economic
  consequences of the health crisis linked to the covid-19 virus epidemic.

• The Solidarity Emergency Fund SACD: A system set up in the wake of the first containment measures designed to support
  the authors most in difficulty: those who have no fixed income, no retirement allowance, no salary, etc

• Following the adoption in 2018 of the law against disinformation, the report of the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) for
  2020 and the committee of experts set up for this purpose will pay particular attention to the actions taken by the platforms in
  times of crisis. The CSA has also organised a meeting for this purpose with the content platforms on the mechanisms put in
  place during the health crisis.

• The Festival de Cannes announced the launch of the Marché du Film Online, a stand alone online market created to support
  the international film industry and help professionals. It will be held from Monday 22 to Friday 26 June.

• Extension of the possibilities for deferral of contributions, including social security contributions for companies, self-employed
  and micro-entrepreneurs.

• ADAMI has put in place a plan of EUR 11.3 million for performers:
• EUR 8.5 million released for a payment made directly to artists
• EUR 1.8 million  of continued financial support for artistic projects cancelled or postponed and previously supported by
  Adami with a special focus on artists' remuneration.
• EUR 330,000  in additional funding for our "Right to the Heart" scheme to support artists facing the most urgent social
  situations.
• EUR 500,000  for the emergency fund set up by the National Music Centre.
• EUR 200,000  for the performing arts emergency fund (excluding music) managed by the Association pour le Soutien au
  Théâtre Privé.

• French Independent Distributors Union (SDI) and Universciné collaborate in France for the release of films on VOD.

• The Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) offers online resources for parents and teachers in three areas: Media and
  information literacy, media education and education through the use of media; and provides for the creation of a pedagogical
  kit for trainers. In addition, the CSA has contributed to the “Press and media week at home” – which, this year, replaces the
  traditional “Press and media week in school” – organised by the Clemi.

• PROCICEP, the collective management organisation for film and TV producers, will proceed to the advance and accelerated
  payment of up to 100% of the amount of creation aid benefiting production companies under the various schemes set up by
  the Film and Television Creation Aid Commissions of PROCIREP and ANGOA, under lighter conditions. Likewise, all aid that
  was being paid out will be honoured under conditions that have now been relaxed to take account of the current context.

• PROCIREP, the collective management organisation for film and TV producers, has
  implemented the payment of an advance on rights for all film and television producer
  companies that have received more than EUR 20,000 of rights per year over the last
  four years. This advance will correspond to 50% of the average annual amount from
  which these companies have benefited, with a maximum of EUR 200,000 per company
  and a ceiling of EUR 400,000 per group.

• SPPF, the collective management organisation for independent phonogram producers,
  will make an exceptional advance payment of EUR 4 million to its members on neighbouring
  rights at the end of 2021. This advance will benefit independent producers developing careers
  as music performers.

• Covid-19 / Exceptional call for projects to support the Moroccan artistic and cultural scene:
  of Morocco have launched an exceptional call for projects to support Moroccan artistic 
  creation, a sector particularly affected by the crisis. The aid could cover up to 60% of the
  total project budget.

• Increase in the threshold for advances of royalties: SCAM is exceptionally modifying the terms of payment of advances on copyrights, increasing the current threshold from 66% to 90% for
  broadcasters and years of operation for which SCAM has already validated the minute rate of remuneration.

• The Scam has created a page dedicated to the information of its members, informing them
  about the various social and financial measures available to authors in France.

• Strengthening of the solidarity fund. Emergency social assistance has been set up for members 
  in a situation of great financial fragility. 

• Cancellation of the physical edition of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival
  and its film market, the festival team is nevertheless preparing a project for an online
  version of Annecy 2020 that would allow access to the selected works as,well as
  exclusive and new content, despite the circumstances. 

• Exceptional Advances : SACEM is setting up exceptional advances on copyright,
  repayable from January 2022, with repayments smoothed over 5 years. These advances
  will be available from May 2020, for those who have generated at least EUR 2,700 in
  royalties over the year 2019. 

• 2020 Festivals Support Unit:The Minister of Culture has set up a support unit that allows for
  case-by-case support to festival organisers. This will also make it possible to identify the
  different needs of festival organisers and to adapt the State's responses accordingly.  

• Emergency aid:SACEM is setting up an emergency fund open until the end of 2020 for
  those experiencing great distress due to the effects of the health crisis, which takes the
  form of non-refundable emergency aid of EUR 1,500, EUR 3,000 or EUR 5,000 depending
  on the situation.

• Aid to publishers: The current aid programme for publishers is increased by EUR 1 million
  and its criteria are extended. This editorial development aid programme, piloted by Sacem's
  Action culturelle, aims to support publishers during the crisis period and help them to
  relaunch their activities

• SACEM has put in place a business continuity plan, in particular to maintain the distribution
  of copyright royalties. The measures put in place for this purpose made it possible to
  proceed with the payment of royalties and sums related to their mutual assistance program,
  with the distribution on Monday, April 6, of a total amount of 140.5 million euros.

• Audiens (the social protection group for the cultural sector) and Netflix launched on
  8 April in consultation with the Ministry of Culture via the CNC the creation of an
  emergency aid fund for intermittent artists and technicians in the audiovisual and film
  industries. Netflix is contributing EUR 1 million to the creation of this emergency aid fund

• The CSA will adopt a flexible approach in the application of the regulatory framework and
  in terms of compliance with production and distribution obligations by audiovisual media
  services. It will take into account the nature of the service, the types of obligations as well
  as the difficulties encountered.

• Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the CSA modified the conditions under which it examines
  applications for the presidency of the French public broadcaster France Televisions.
• Application deadline is postponed until 10 July 2020.

• The Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Culture have decided to neutralize the period
  from 15 March until the end of the containment period for:
• the calculation of the reference period giving entitlement to unemployment insurance and
  social rights for intermittent workers in the entertainment industry
• the calculation and payment of unemployment insurance benefits for intermittent workers
  and other employees in the cultural sector

• Order No 2020-353 of 27 March 2020: CMO’s can use the sums mentioned in
  Article L. 324-17 of the Intellectual Property Code for the payment of financial
  aid to holders of copyright and related rights, whose income resulting from the
  exploitation in France of protected works and objects is seriously affected due to the
  health crisis caused on the national territory by the covid-19 virus or the implementation
  of measures to combat the spread of the virus.

• Emergency Law No. 2020-290 of 23 March 2020 to deal with the covid-19 epidemic:
• Article 17 sets up ""an exceptional regime"" allowing the president of the CNC to grant,
  for films that were screened in cinemas on 14 March 2020, the day before the closure of
  all French cinemas, an exemption from the ""official"" period of four months from their
  release to be screened as VOD or DVD/Blu-Ray.

• Anticipation of payment of the 2020 selective support to distributors.
• Authorisation for anticipated use of the automatic support to distributors.

• Anticipation of the payment of 2020 subsidies to the Art House cinemas.
• Authorisation for anticipated use of the automatic support to exhibitors.

• Authorisation for anticipated use of the automatic support to producers

• Instructions given to the tax administration to accelerate reimbursement of 2019 production
  incentives.

• In accordance with its mission to inform the general public (Article 16-1 of Audiovisual
  law of 30 September 1986), the CSA instructed broadcasters to display prevention ads
  on COVID-19 produced by the national Ministry in charge of public health.

• The French government announced an aid package to support businesses and workers.
  A solidarity fund has been introduced to support small business. The French Government
  will support French businesses loans (current and upcoming), delaying payments and
  facilitating agreement from banks.

• French culture and audiovisual bank (IFCIC) to:
• Guarantee up to 70% any loan granted in the context of COVID-19.
• Accept any request from a bank to prolong its guarantee

• French culture and audiovisual bank (IFCIC) accepts to defer reimbursements for the
  loans it has granted directly.

• The Public Investment Bank will:
• provide its guarantee to the banks, up to 70%, for all types of credits granted in the
  context;
• systematically extend credit guarantees to the banks at their request and in order to
  encourage their redevelopment;
• accept, upon motivated request, the implementation of capital repayment deductibles
  on its own loans.

• Payment of planned subsidies for events cancelled.

• French film agency (CNC) authorised to shorten the media chronology for films already
  in exploitation 14 March 2020.
• On-going interprofessional discussions regarding the release of films directly to VOD.

• Postponement of the March payment by exhibitors of the tax on cinema tickets.

• "Lumni initiative": The initiative, which was created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,
  by French public broadcaster in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Culture,
  was included in the Government's operation "Nation apprentie".
• It is an online platform offering education content for young audiences of different age groups from primary school until high school. It launched a programme designed for students "La maison Lumni" and featuring teachers and educators.

• #Culturecheznous:The Ministry of Culture along with several partners set an
  online platform centralising different cultural offers online, including audiovisual
  content from French public service media for the general public but also special
  content for children and for parents.

• Opération "Nation apprenante": In collaboration with public broadcaster France Télévisions,
  Radio France, Arte the initiative aims at providing teachers, students and their families with
  quality programs linked to school curriculum.

• Emergency funds from the Scottish Government being delivered by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, announced in August 2020:. Update Nov.: Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers (GBP 8m) is still open for applications.

• Emergency funds from the Scottish Government being delivered by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, announced in August 2020:. Update Nov.:  Independent Cinemas Recovery (GBP 3,5m) awarded 30 cinemas in November.

• Emergency funds from the Scottish Government being delivered by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, announced in August 2020:. Update Nov.: GBP 3,5m additional funding for Creative Scotland's Open Fund is open.

• Emergency funds from the Scottish Government being delivered by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, announced in August 2020:. Update Nov:  Culture Collective Fund (GBP 1m) opened in Nov will announce awarded in Feb 2021.

• Emergency funds from the Scottish Government being delivered by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, announced in August 2020:. Update Nov:  Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund (GBP 15m) has supported 233 applicants and is studying how to use remaining funding.

• Creative Scotland commissioned 56 Degree Insight to undertake a programme of survey research between July 2020 and January 2021 to monitor and measure audience interest in returning to arts activities and changing patterns of cultural consumption. First wave of research completed in August 2020.

• Directors UK have produced "Working Under COVID: Advice for Factual Directors", a new framework designed to support safe working on factual productions under COVID-19 conditions.

• The Creative Industries Federation has commissioned research from Oxford Economics on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis entitled "The Projected Economic Impact of Covid-19 on the UK Creative Industries report".

• "Temporary Covid-19 short-term restricted service licences
• OFCOM confirmed that they will continue to make this temporary licence type available to apply for if the area being served had additional restrictions in place. This temporary licence type was introduced in April 2020 during the first lockdown for those wanting to provide a radio service to share information, news and updates about the Covid-19 pandemic with their community."

• GBP 1.57 billion of emergency grants and loans to protect Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres,
  independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues.

• The Government has announced a new GBP 500 million programme to restart film and television productions across the UK, which will help restart television and film productions that have been interrupted or delayed due to a lack of insurance, giving productions the confidence they need to be supported in the event of future losses due to Covid-19.

• The Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund provides financial support for individual creative
  practitioners and/or freelancers who are most deeply impacted by COVID-19 emergency, to
  sustain their creative practice in Scotland. The GBP 4 million fund will offer one-off bursary
  payments of between GBP 500 and GBP 2,500 to cover immediate needs.

• A GBP 1.5 million Screen Scotland Bridging Bursary programme will provide one-off bursaries of
  GBP 500 to GBP 2,500 to freelance PAYE and self-employed screen sector workers who are
  experiencing immediate financial difficulty due to loss of income as a result of the Covid-19.

• The Open Funding: Sustaining Creative Development supports creative practitioners to continue to
  develop work (explore how best to sustain their practice, and reimagine their work). The GBP 7.5m
  fund will support up to 12 months of activity with a maximum award of GBP 50,000.

• WGGB has set up a special page, "Covid-19 advice for WGGB members", to
  offer advice, information and useful ressources to their members. 

• WGGB has launched Write On, a free series of online events during lockdown
  to support writers in their careers. Subjects covered so far include why writers
  need unions, protecting your work and the art and craft of video games writing

• The Creative Industries Federation has brought together advice from across
  the sector which it is updating regularly to support its members.

• The Royal Television Society has created an advice page, "COVID-19 Advice and Guidance for
  Freelancers", to offer advice and useful resources for freelancers working in the industry who are
  currently affected by COVID-19. 

• Freelancers COVID-19 Fund: The BBC set up a fund to provide temporary support for its community
  of freelances who are experiencing hardship as a result of work being cancelled and loss of income
  caused by the Covid-19 crisis. PAYE freelancers engaged by BBC Public Service were able to request
  a net payment of up to £1,000 for the months of April and May 2020 from the fund, while gross paid
  sole trader freelancers eligible for SEISS scheme were able to request a one-off payment up to £1,000.

• People in Scotland who became self-employed recently (on or after 6 April 2019) can apply for
  one-off grants of up to £2,000 from the Scottish Government’s Newly Self-Employed
  Hardship Fund.

• The Society of Authors and partner organisations, including Authors’ Licensing and Collecting
  Society (ALCS), Royal Literary Fund (RLF), the T S Eliot Foundation in partnership with English
  PEN, and Amazon UK, have set up an emergency fund of £330,000 to help authors through the
  crisis.  Grants are likely to be up to £2,000 and designed to meet urgent need with the possibility
  of review as the situation continues.

• Arts Council Wales has set up a Covid-19 information page offering the latest updates, information
  about coronavirus and existing support schemes. 

• Arts Resilience Fund - Urgent Response Fund for Individuals: The Urgent Response Fund is for
  freelance creative practitioners who are experiencing financial hardship/loss of income now due to
  the COVID-19 pandemic. This is short‑term emergency funding to enable individuals to meet their
  most urgent financial needs while they explore the potential help available from Government
  schemes or from other ways of sustaining their activities. This fund includes financial support from
  the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, Tŷ Cerdd, Literature Wales and the Freelands
  Foundation.

• Arts Resilience Fund - Stabilisation Fund for Individuals: This fund is to support freelance artists
  and freelance creative practitioners working in the not-for-profit sector in Wales who are trying to
  survive the threat to their livelihoods caused by the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are
  intended to help build resilience and maintain creative practice. Grants of between £1,000 and
  £10,000 are available.

• Arts Resilience Fund - Stabilisation Fund for Organisations: This fund is to support arts organisations
  working in the not-for-profit sector in Wales who are experiencing immediate financial difficulty due to
  loss of income, as well as cashflow pressures resulting from the pandemic.

• Bectu, the union for creative workers in the media and entertainment industries, has set up a
  special page to inform their members about the latest news, advice and resource on how to deal
  with the pandemic. 

• Welsh independent TV production: The Emergency TV Development Fund (ETVDF) will provide
  immediate financial support for indigenous independent production companies during the
  coronavirus crisis. Support will be available for companies to use while production cannot take place
  to develop projects. 

• New COVID-19 Guidance for the Creative Industries in Wales: In conjunction with their stakeholders,
  Creative Wales has published high-level guidance for a phased return for the Creative Industries
  in Wales.

• UK Broadcasters (ITV, BBC, Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5, STV, ITN, the Association for Commercial
  Broadcasters and On-Demand Services (COBA) and Pact) join forces to introduce new industry
  wide guidance for producing television safely during Covid-19.

• The BFI is providing GBP 500,000 from its International Fund to establish the UK Sales
  Company Organisational Support Fund to enable sales companies to maintain their operations
  during the pandemic and to respond effectively to the new business models emerging during this
  period in relation to film sales and distribution.Prizes will be awarded up to GBP 25,000.

• Ofcom has updated its licensing information to offer guidance to individuals or organisations who
  may wish to hold drive-in movies. 

• Ofcom ruled that ESTV Ltd had breached its Broadcasting Code by airing an interview on the Coronavirus pandemic which risked causing “significant harm to viewers."

• 20 March - the UK has announced that all VAT payments are postponed for the next three
  months until the end of June 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. The VAT is then due at the end of the 2020/21 financial year.
• Update 26 March: non-resident (foreign) companies with a UK registrations are entitled to the deferment. No interest will accrue on postponed VAT.

• 21 June - The UK is considering a COVID-19 cut to its standard Value Added Tax rate, currently 20%,
  according to various media reports. Any announcement could come in July, to coincide with lockdown
  easements, with the aim to reduce prices and kick-start consumer spending.

• 18 June - The UK’s HMRC warns that the 3-month VAT payments deferment scheme will end 30
  June 2020. 

• U.K. cinemas will be reopening on July 4 with social distancing measures, according to new
  coronavirus recovery guidance put out by the government in May. The document, entitled
  “Our Plan to Rebuild,” sets out that cinemas are part of a “high-risk” group of businesses that
  will be the last to reopen.

• The BBC announces a package of measures to maintain the creative health of the independent
  production sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes:
• the extension of three BBC creative partnerships to other countries and regions. Following an
  open briefing, shortlisted companies will receive development funding and in-depth online sessions
  with the BBC Three team.
• the increased development support through the injection of additional development expenditure to
  focus on short and long-term opportunities.
• doubling their investment in the Small Indie Fund from £1 million to £2 million.
• a company-centric approach to impacted productions, by continuing to work closely with producers
  on ongoing projects that have been suspended, while seeking support solutions where possible,
  being flexible on delivery and varying cash flow as required on a title-by-title basis.
• an increase investment in archive and acquisition rights during this period.

• The British Film Commission has published official guidelines for large-scale film and TV productions
  in the UK to resume filming. The protocols was approved by the UK government and developed in
  consultation with the BFI and other key industry stakeholders.

• Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund: This GBP 5m Coronavirus Hardship Fund
  was launched quickly by the UK Charity Help Musician to provide immediate financial relief to musicians
  while Government support options were revealed. It will target in priority those  suffering significant
  financial hardship, which will be able to apply for a one-off payment of GBP 500. Following the initial
  GBP 5 million released by Help Musicians, the Fund has been further generously supported by several organisations, including inter alia : Amazon Music, Arts Council England, BPI, PPL and Spotify.

• Covid-19 news and information: consumption and attitudes: As a response to the Covid-19 outbreak,
  Ofcom is providing a range of information about how people are getting news and information about
  the crisis. They have commissioned a weekly online survey of around 2,000 people over the next
  three months, and also provide key findings from other datasets such as BARB and comScore.

• Following their duties under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom has imposed a sanction on the
  licensee Loveworld Limited, which broadcasts the religious television channel Loveworld, after a
  news programme and a live sermon included potentially harmful claims about causes of, and
  treatments for, Covid-19

• Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: The scheme allow self-employed to claim a taxable and
  non-repayable grant of 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment
  covering 3 months, and capped at £7,500 altogether. This is a temporary scheme, but it may be
  extended.

• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS): The scheme helps small and medium-
  sized businesses to access loans and other kinds of finance up to £5 million. The government
  guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender and pays interest and any fees for the first 12 months.

• Coronavirus Future Fund: The Future Fund will provide government loans to UK-based companies
  ranging from GBP 125,000 to GBP 5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private
  investors.

• Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS): The scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses to
  borrow between £2,000 and up to 25% of their turnover. The maximum loan available is £50,000.
  The government guarantees 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the
  first 12 months. After 12 months the interest rate will be 2.5% a year.

• Directors UK has set up a special COVID-19 (Coronavirus) FAQs for Directors UK members, to
  provide them with expert advice on coping with COVID-19 from a health and employment
  perspective, and other useful information for directors.

• InterConnected - BBC Writersroom: The BBC Writersroom has set up a special call for short and
  original scripts where the characters are now isolated, but linked by videoconference. The best
  scripts produced with professional actors will be broadcast on BBC platforms throughout April and
  the selected writers will each receive £300 for their script.

• Sky’s advertising sales arm is launching a GBP 1 million fund that will provide 100 businesses with
  TV advertising campaigns via AdSmart. The scheme, set up by Sky Media, is open to SMEs that have
  been running for at least one year in the UK with up to 50 full time employees. They’ll be gifted an
  advertising campaign worth GBP 10,000.

• Directors UK is offering mostly free and some paid digital /online training, available to develop director
  craft and business skills during the crisis. It includes Online Coaching Support with professionals and
  consultancy sessions.

• Screenskills is offering free and some paid digital /online training, available to develop various director
  craft and business skills during the crisis, in numerous sectors (TV, animation, cinema) and how to
  adapt the film industry
  in a post-covid world.

• Arts Council England has published an applicant's guide for two of its Emergency Response Package
  funds:
• one to support individuals and the other for organisations outside its national portfolio, as well as
  other existing financial supports for artists, creative practitioners and freelancers such as benevolent
  funds.

• a-n The Artists Information Company has produced a Covid-19 guidance document for artists and
  cultural institutions incorporating a list of available funding resources.

• a-n Bursaries: Time Space Money: Time Space Money is an emergency response fund to support
  artists and arts organisers to enable them to continue their professional practice during this crisis.
  To this end, a-n The Artists Information Company is offering bursaries of GBP 500 - GBP 1,500 to
  help support those whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19. 

• Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund: In association with a-n The Artists Information Company,
  Freelands Foundation has set up the Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund, endowed with
  GBP 1.5 million, as part of a historic GBP 3 million commitment to emergency funds for independent
  artists and creators in the UK affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The new fund will support grants of
  between GBP 1,500 and GBP 2,500 per person, assessed on the basis of need, with GBP 1
  million for artists living in England and GBP 500,000 for those in Northern Ireland.

• In response to the current emergency, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Awards for Artists has decided to
  change the normal selection process for the winners: instead of offering GBP 60,000 to 10 visual
  artists and composers selected from a long list, each eligible artist nominated for the 2020 awards -
  more than 100 in total - will receive GBP 10,000 each.

• Culture in Quarantine: Launched by the BBC with support from the Arts Council England, to allow
  home access to arts and culture.

• BFI FAN COVID-19 Resilience Fund (GBP 1.3m): Exhibitors and festivals have faced immediate
  closure and cancellations, with many small and medium sized businesses at risk of permanent
  closure and making staff redundant. The BFI has repurposed the BFI Film Audience Network’s
  National Lottery activity funding, to offer critical relief to exhibitors across the whole of the UK.
  Opening next week, applications will be via local Film Hub Lead Organisations.

• BFI Film Continuation Fund: up to GBP 2m to be made available to independent UK productions
  interrupted by COVID-19 to help cover unexpected additional production costs to ensure
  productions are in the best position to resume production when practical. Further details will be
  announced later in April.

• BFI funded features: GBP 800,000 was made available for current BFI funded features that
  were interrupted due to COVID-19 restrictions. As contracts were abruptly cut short, the funds
  ensured those employed were paid two weeks’ notice.

• Ofcom has set up a special page with tips and advices on how to stay connected during the
  lockdown and to make better use of internet.

• Ofcom created a webpage 'Cutting Through the Covid-19 Confusion' that provides useful tools to
  navigate news and information about Covid-19, including links to sites that debunk common
  misconceptions or harmful claims about Coronavirus, dedicated fact-checking services, and
  resources with tips on how to seek out reliable content, tell fact from fiction, and find out who’s
  behind particular claims to help people ‘share’ information responsibly. The page includes a
  section for families, to help parents support their children’s critical understanding during this time.  

• As a response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Ofcom is providing a range of information about how
  people are getting news and information about the crisis: This information is published as part
  of Ofcom's media literacy duties, as part of Ofcom's Making Sense of Media programme.
  This work furthers Ofcom's understanding around the access, consumption and critical
  engagement with news at this time, recognising that habits may intensify or change given
  the nature of the crisis. 

• Equity, a union of performers and creative practitioners, has set up a new emergency fund, the
  “Benevolent Fund”, to support entertainment workers through individual grants.

• The Directors Support Scheme offers emergency help to Directors in acute need and is designed
  for short-term support, in the form of an individual grant up to GBP 500.

• PRS for Music has set up a dedicated page "Help through Covid 19" to inform its members
  about the support measures available to them.

• PRS for Music is working in partnership with PRS Members’ Fund and the PRS Foundation to
  offer support to their authors through the PRS Emergency Relief Fund. Grants are awarded
  based on assessment of individual need and applicants can receive support up to a value of
  GBP 1000.

• Arts Council England has set up a support fund totalling GBP 20 million for people working in
  the cultural sector, including artists, creative practitioners and the self-employed, which takes
  the form of individual grants of up to GBP 2,500 per person. 

• Guidance on compliance with the Broadcasting Code and programming commitments, and
  broadcasting content relating to the Coronavirus situation, issued by Ofcom.

• Ofcom will revise its Plan of Work for 2020/21 at the end of April to take account of the
  coronavirus crisis and provides a revised timetable for Ofcom activities. Additionally, Ofcom
  provides for:
• the suspension of all existing consultation deadlines and information requests and puts on hold
  new consultations, decisions and information requests.
• delays in the implementation of new obligations where needed. Specifically the implementation
  deadlines of the European Electronic Communications Code (being discussed with the
  Government).
• Ofcom will continue ensure markets operate with integrity, and take measures to ensure fairness
  for customers. Accuracy in broadcasting is essential, and Ofcom will expedite any standards
  enforcement cases involving potentially harmful broadcast content relating to the coronavirus.

• Communities Minister announces support for artists, performers and creative producers across
  the arts and creative sector, in the form of a new EUR 1million COVID-19 Creative Support Fund. 

• Funding for Wales’ Arts, Culture and Sports Sectors During COVID-19 Outbreak: Support package
  for the creative industries, culture and sport sectors totalling  GBP 18 million, provided by the
  Welsh Government, the Arts Council for Wales and Sport Wales to help support these sectors in
  safeguarding their businesses and jobs. It includes:
• GBP 7 million Arts Resilience Fund led by the Arts Council of Wales to support artists and arts
  organisations most in need and least likely to benefit from other support programmes. 
• GBP 1 million Creative Wales Fund to provide support for grassroots music venues to respond to
  immediate pressures, and additional support for the TV and publishing sectors.

• The BFI announced a new partnership with The Film and TV Charity to create a new COVID-19
  Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund. The fund provides emergency short-term relief to active
  workers and freelancers in the UK who have been directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
  The time-limited fund – applications will remain open until April 22nd –offers eligible workers and
  freelancers up to GBP 2,500 in one-off grants. It has been supported by initial donations
  totaling GBP 2.5m from Netflix, the BFI, BBC Studios, BBC Content, WarnerMedia and several
  unnamed individuals.

• The BFI is being as supportive as possible with partner and beneficiaries across all existing
  funding arrangements, including flexibility on both delivery targets until business returns to normal,
  and of scheduling of payment to partners and beneficiaries to help their cash flow. Projects eligible
  under creative sector tax reliefs are able to claim the relief up until the point of abandonment.

• Film and TV Support Line 24/7:
• Advising around finances during COVID-19 period, including ESA, universal credit, utilities and
  how to apply for support.
• Provision of support grants to help face significant financial difficulties
• Support and advice for mental wellbeing

• All membership subscriptions delayed until 1st June 2020.

• In order to provide access to cultural services for those who stay at home, 24 organizations
  under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia launched the mass
  online campaign #stayathome #cultureforyou, which offers a variety of cultural and audiovisual
  content online. 

• Despite the current situation, the Ministry has maintained and prolonged deadlines for up to
  16 open call competitions aimed at supporting cultural organisations and individual artists.

• The project Tele-school was launched by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and
  Sports in cooperation with the Georgian television channel First Channel. The project allows
  all students, regardless of having access to the internet, to follow interesting lessons in all
  subjects defined by the National Curriculum, among them lessons of fine and applied arts and
  music. 

• The Communications Commission calls on telecommunications companies and broadcasters to
  work at full capacity due to the situation in the country.

• In a communication, the Georgian National Communication Commission stressed the crucial role
  of the media and called on them to cover events in the most professional manner possible in order
  to provide the public with only correct and verified information in the context of the current health
  crisis.

• Licensing applications for exceptional rehearsals and filming. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection informs about the procedure for the exceptional rehearsals and cinematographic shootings (according to the provisions of no. /06.11.2020): interested parties should send their request by email.

• The Covid-19 Special Financing Program is completed and supplemented with additional funding for 100 scripts and 20 producers. The Ministry of Culture, recognizing the large number of proposals submitted and the ongoing crisis due to the second wave of the pandemic, decided to support with additional funding the Covid-19 Special Financing Program in order to strengthen another 100 scenarios from the already submitted proposals that did not receive funding, and to finance the production of 20 additional films. 

• Special Program for the Support of the Cinema Community from the Ministry of Culture and Sports, implemented in collaboration with the Greec Film Center. For this Program, the Ministry has allocated the amount of EUR ,800,000 for the three sub-programs (Short Film, Documentary and Animation).

• Governmental Act of 20/3/2020: Companies that have suspended some of the employment
  agreements, may benefit from several flexibility measures introduced by the government,
  including applying rotational work. The Secretary General for Work also clarified,that a 10%
  of the employees, the contract of whom has been suspended, may offer their work to cover
  exceptional needs of the company. 

• Governmental Act of 30/3/2020 provides that the recently licensed free to air, nationwide,
  DTT providers will not have to pay the annual instalment of the price paid for their licenses
  (an amount of EUR 3,500,000.00 /provider) payable until the 15th of October each year.
  The amount due for the 2020 will be equally split and paid with the remaining instalments.

• 30 March. The Government of Greece has introduced a number of tax measures to help
  businesses cope with the COVID-19 epidemic. These include: For businesses affected by the
  outbreak, VAT payments due up to 30 April is posponed until 31 August 2020; and any
  outstanding VAT at 11 March will not need to be paid until 31 August 2020. The filing of 2019
  sales lists has been delayed to 30 June 2020.

• 11 April: VAT payers who do not lay off staff may withhold 25% of their VAT due in April to
  assist durig the COVID-19 crisis.

• 25 May - May VAT return payment deadlines are delayed, without charges, until 30 September
  for qualifying businesses.
• 21 May - VAT rate on public transport, coffee supplies and non-alchoholic drinks will be reduced
  from 24% to 13% from 1 June and 31 October.
• 15 May update - May VAT returns payments deadline has been extended to 31 August 2020.
  There will be no penalties or interest due.
• 13 May update - Greece is reviewing cutting catering services VAT from 13% to 11% during
  the COVID-19 crisis. The likely implementation date would be 1 June 2020.

• 23 June - taxpayers may apply for 12-month interest free payment plans on their VAT due
  between March and September 2020. There is also a two-year option with lower interest
  charges.

• Greece open-air venues are allowed to operate at 40% capacity from June 1 provided they
  have strict social distancing measures in place. For the other cinemas, predictions across
  the industry are for a late-August, early-September reopening.

• The Secretary General of Contemporary Culture of the Ministry of Culture issued the safe
  conduct of filming in May 18th, specifying the instructions of the National Committee for the
  Protection of Public Health from May 6, 2020.

• The GFC will form a catalogue of short films from which the independent cinemas that have
  up to three screens may select the movies to screen a Greek short before the launch of a feature
  film during the 2020-21 season. For each of their screening rooms,
• they will receive special support of EUR 1 500.

• Special Programme of Support for the Film Community, totalling EUR 1.8 million.
  Applications are open until June 15, 2020 for specific calls for the development of animation,
  documentary and short-film projects.

• Autodia is keeping members and users updated via its Facebook pages as to updates
  regarding the existing support measures and its requests to government on finding
  solutions for creators.

• For employees with suspended employment contracts and self-employed workers:
• Special purpose compensation of EUR 800 for 45 days (fixed-term employment
  contracts included)
• Full coverage of insurance contributions on nominal wages
• Suspension for 4 months payment of certified debts in March-April, with a discount of
  25% if paid in due time
• For Businesses:
• Suspension of payment till August 2020 on VAT declarations and installments of confirmed
  debts of March- April
• 25% discount for March-April installment payments if paid in due time
• Suspension of payment of employee insurance contributions.
• Provides liquidity to small and medium-sized enterprises that have been severely
  affected by their financial activity through the “repayment” financing scheme

• A set of measures introduced by the Greek Ministry of Culture includes an emergency
  fund of EUR 15 million that is being set up to support the modern culture and its creators
  (audiovisual sector included). Both individuals and companies will benefit from it. 

• Staying at home with Culture: Online screenings of the interrupted performances of the
  National Theatre

• Administration and procedures adapted to COVID crisis, e.g.: GFC speeds up the payments for
  films that are in production, accepts the necessary supporting documents electronically, expedits
  the procedures and extends the deadlines

• An emergency financial aid has been introduced by the Government targeting independent cinema
  owners, under two conditions:
  cinemas of 1 or 2 screens only, which have screened at least 2 Greek / European films in 2019-2020.
  The fund will be handled by the Greek Film Center. 

• The Ministry of Culture and Sports issued a special Call, as part of its initiatives to find alternative
  ways of producing culture and accessing culture through technology, for the development of cultural
  material that will be accessible online.

• DHFR, a non-profit association of professional film directors and screenwriters, will use non-
  distributable amounts to support Croatian authors, whose artistic activity in the audiovisual
  sector is the main source of income, but has been totally or substantially affected by the
  COVID-19 crisis.

• The Croatian Institute of Public Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture has
  published "Recommendations for the production and recording of audiovisual and music
  content during the COVID-19 epidemic."

• The Government has established a social fund for freelance journalists. Freelancers who prove
  that their income decreased by 50% or more from March to May, will receive EUR 530 each
  month for a three months period, a total of EUR 1.590. This Fund will be managed by the Agency
  for Electronic Media.

• In the light of the restriction of the impact of the crisis on the cultural and creative sectors,
  the Ministry of Culture published a public call for encouraging entrepreneurship in cultural
  and creative industries for 2020 in the field of production, distribution, availability and access
  to cultural and artistic contents in the new circumstances of COVID-19. Grants are up to 85%
  of the eligible costs of the proposed project.

• The Ministry of Culture has announced a new support measure to encourage and revive the
  production and distribution of cultural content, in cooperation with HAMAG BICRO and the
  Ministry of Finance. It takes the form of a loan guarantee programme for entrepreneurs active
  in the field of culture and creative industries envisages a loan of HRK 300 million,and
  entrepreneurs will be able to take out a loan from a bank of up to EUR 800 000, for which
  the Government of the Republic of Croatia provides a 100% guarantee.

• The Agency for Electronic Media and the UNICEF Office for Croatia have prepared an
  infographic with key recommendation for an easier navigation in the media space during
  the pandemic era on where to look and how to check information, what it means to behave
  responsibly on the internet and social networks, and how to talk about it with children.

• As part of the 3rd Media Literacy Day, the Agency for Electronic Media and the UNICEF Office
  for Croatia launched a digital campaign to raise awareness of the importance of critical thinking,
  recognizing misinformation and responsible use of the Internet. The campaign is conducted
  through social networks and Internet portals, and points out the importance of checking 
  information and responsible sharing.

• 24 March: Croatia is to allow VAT registered businesses with annual turnover below
  HRK 7.5m to delay their Value Added Tax liabilities due in April out to July. There will be
  no penalties or late interest charges. But returns must still be filed on time.

• 15 April - businesses with a drop of 20% or more of revenue may apply for a deferal of payments.
  This will apply for March and April returns.

• The Croatian Audiovisual Centre published an updated set of recommendations prepared by
  principal professional associations, in line with the recommendations issued by the Croatian
  Institute of Public Health, for the resumption of filming. 

• The Ministry of Culture has launched a public call of 20 million HRK to help independent artists
  through the paiement of an one-off grant.

• Due to the corona situation in Croatia, HDS ZAMP is postponing the issuing and sending of
  March invoices to all catering establishments, hotels, restaurants, hairdressers and other
  small users .

• Although some cinemas opened on May 18, most independent cinemas set to reopen on
  25 May, with a 30% capacity. Multiplexes still closed at least until 15 June.

• The Agency has announced a special call - Fund for encouraging quality and investigative
  journalism on Internet portals as well as for publishing of topics of public interest.The total amount
  of the Fund is EUR 130.000 and it is dedicated to journalists who submit topics to be covered
  until the end of 2020.

• The Agency informed that the current difficulties will be taken into account when assessing the
  initial allocation of funds for 2020 (the requirements may not be continued due to the cancellation
  of many events and the broadcasting of content). 

• The Agency issued recommendations to broadcasters on how to report during the crisis, i.e. to
  publish accurate and verified information, prevent the dissemination of false information, in
  particular that relating to public health, etc.

• The Ministry of Culture, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Croatian Film Association and
  other organisations enabled free streaming of Croatian and European works on various
  online platforms.

• The Ministry of Culture will allow emergency aid (monthly payments) to freelance artists
  whose contributions are paid from the national budget.

• Measures include:
• Aid for preserving jobs in coronavirus affected sectors.
• Provisional measure suspensions of self-employment and employment grants with a view to
  securing additional funding for job retention in coronavirus-affected sectors.
• Postponement of payment of financial compensation for all employers of the quota for
  employment of persons with disabilities.
• Allowing EU aid beneficiaries the possibility of suspending or delaying project implementation,
  delaying payment of reimbursements, and taking into account the reduced implementation of
  projected indicators on projects due to objective new circumstances.

• Documentation requirements have been relaxed. All transactions are handled on-line.
  Appropriate Decisions and Guidance have been issued and adapted to circumstances
  as needed.

• HDS Solidarity Fund: HDS Zamp opened a solidarity fund of HRK 550,000 to help the
  authors most affected by the economic downturn of the health crisis and the earthquake
  by giving them one-time grants according to their situation. At the same time, HDS ZAMP
  is also preparing a long-term plan of measures to mitigate the decrease in income of all right
  holders in the newly created situation.

• AEM brought together television spots with important messages and tips for behavior
  during the coronavirus epidemic that local and regional broadcasters can download from
  provided links on AEM's website.

• Acceleration of the disbursement of funds in the development and production phase to
  ensure the implementation of programs and projects, especially for development.

• Establishement of greater flexibility in administering our various programs including
  relaxation of contractual deadlines, streamlining procedures for filing applications
  managing deadlines and approval procedures. All eligible costs in connection with the
  implementation of the project co-financed by the Center, which project has been canceled
  or postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic are recognized

• At the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Croatian Radio and Television will, in accordance
  with its public service mission, and in collaboration with participants in the cultural scene in
  Croatia, create an additional cultural program on its Third Program of HRT (HRT- HTV3).

• All electronic media providers in the Republic of Croatia are advised to publish their audiovisual
  commercial communications in such a way that the measures prescribed by the Civil Protection
  Staff are not compromised by such communications.

• The Agency for Electronic Media will inform broadcasters of TV and radio about the temporary
  relaxation of programming quota obligations.

• The Agency for Electronic Media will make payments to the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism
  and Diversity of Electronic Media for 2020, with the possibility of redefining part of the Fund on the
  topic of public monitoring of the coronavirus epidemic, and will allow adjusting the programming
  bases of media service providers as these adjustments pursue a public information objective.

• The Ministry of Culture temporarily suspends the review of recognized rights of independent
  artists to the payment of pension and health insurance contributions from state budget funds.

• Announcement by the Ministry of Culture of forthcoming publication of information about cultural
  content that will be transmitted through various distribution channels.
• The aim is to ensure the accessibility and diversity of cultural content that cannot be maintained
  in front of an audience in the future. All activities recorded or broadcast live can be monitored
  in one place.

• Based on a measure of the Government of the Republic of Croatia aimed at preserving
  employment, the Ministry of Culture invites entrepreneurs and independent workers from
  the cultural and creative sector to apply for employment preservation grants.