This workshop organised by the European Audiovisual Observatory aimed to discuss the financial ecosystem of audiovisual production in Europe, with regard to direct and indirect support measures at European and national levels.
The way people enjoy audiovisual content is changing at an amazing speed, but one thing that remains unshaken is that money still makes the (audiovisual) world go round. These resources are to great extent public money, which comes directly from funding bodies or is “obtained” indirectly thanks to tax incentive schemes and other arrangements. Such promotion of audiovisual works is guaranteed under public policy measures and materialises through a series of legislations at European and national levels.
The European Commission, as guardian of the EU treaties and defender of the general interest, has the duty to assess whether such provision of public money complies with EU law. In order to do so, in November 2013 the Commission adopted its Communication on state aid for films and other audiovisual works, which contains revised criteria for assessing under EU State aid rules member states’ support schemes in favour of films and other audiovisual works.
Also, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS Directive) imposes a number of promotion obligations on broadcasters and video on demand services. These obligations aim at strengthening the competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry and at promoting cultural diversity and heritage in Europe. Furthermore, certain countries have introduced investment obligations on broadcasters and VoD services that go beyond the minimum requirements imposed by the AVMS Directive.
You will find here the summary of the discussions held during the workshop, including links to the presentations made by the participants.
Opening of the workshop
Susanne Nikoltchev, Executive Director of the European Audiovisual Observatory
Tina Mulcahy, Executive Director of the European Youth Centre
Session 1 - Setting the scene
Chair: Sophie Valais, Legal Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory
Presentation - The four pillars of State support for film and audiovisual production, Francisco Javier Cabrera Blázquez, Senior Legal Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory
Presentation - The ecosystem of content production in Europe, Gilles Fontaine, Head of the Department for Market Information at the European Audiovisual Observatory
Presentation - Current Challenges for European Independent Film & TV content financing, Bertrand Moullier, CEO, Narval Media
Discussion
Session 2 - The State leg: Direct public funding and tax incentives
Chair: Francisco Javier Cabrera Blázquez, Senior Legal Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory
Presentation - Public funds and fiscal incentives in Europe, Julio Talavera Milla, Film Industry Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory
Discussion
Session 3 - The industry leg: Quotas and investment obligations
Chair: Maja Cappello, Head of the Department for Legal Information of the European Audiovisual Observatory
Presentation - The European and national framework on AVMS obligations, Sophie Valais, Legal Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory
Discussion
Session 4 - World café
Chair: Maja Cappello, Head of the Department for Legal Information of the European Audiovisual Observatory
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Producers |
Table host: Emmanuel Joly Brainstormers: Jérôme Dechesne, Marisa Fernández Armenteros, Marc-Antoine Robert, Bertrand Moullier |
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Funding schemes |
Table host: Susan Newman-Baudais Brainstormers: Marc du Moulin, Charlotte Appelgren, Julie-Jeanne Régnault, Bérénice Honold, Gerda Leonavičienė |
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AVMS providers |
Table host: Marcel Boulogne Brainstormers: Michael Wagner, Masa Lampret, Adam Minns, Renate Dörr, Giovanni Altieri, Colin Bortner |
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Media regulators |
Table host: Emmanuelle Machet Brainstormers: Giorgio Greppi, Ciarán Kissane, Robert Tomljenović, Vianney Baudeu, Abdeljalil Elhammoumi, Julie Mamou |
Closing of the workshop
Susanne Nikoltchev, Executive Director of the European Audiovisual Observatory
