“A three act drama but hopefully not a tragedy” is how the European Audiovisual Observatory is pitching its new documentary short on the effects of COVID-19 on the film, TV and VOD industries in Europe. The Observatory traditionally organizes the biggest public cinema conference every year at the Cannes Marché du Film. This year the Observatory is taking part in the Marché du Film online and is showing its new documentary short with a live expert chat session afterwards.
- When: Tuesday 23 June from 17.00 – 18.00 (CET).
- How: This is a public online event and everyone may join and watch by registering free here
With this documentary, the European Audiovisual Observatory would like to contribute to creating transparent information on the impact of COVID-19 on the audiovisual sector. It was made possible thanks to the insights shared by members of the Observatory’s Advisory Committee and includes interviews with major industry players from all sectors who talk us through their experiences of the three acts of the global pandemic: crisis, resistance and ... the future. Through these interviews the makers of this documentary short explore the dramatic effects of COVID-19 on the audiovisual industries, the measures put in place to support them and look to the future, to the ‘new normal’. Taking part in the film and then sharing their thoughts with us afterwards in a live chat session are:
- Richard Burnley, Director of Legal & Policy, European Broadcasting Union (EBU);
- Silvia Cibien, General Delegate, EUROVOD;
- Cécile Despringre, Executive Director, Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA);
- Benoît Ginisty, Chief Representative, International Federation of Associations of Film Producers (FIAPF);
- Laura Houlgatte, CEO, International Union of Cinemas (UNIC);
- Elena Lai, Secretary General, CEPI – European Audiovisual Production;
- Alexandra Lebret, Managing director, European Producers' Club (EPC);
- Grégoire Polad, Director General, Association of commercial televisions (ACT);
- Alina Popescu, Secretary General, International Federation of Film Distributors' Associations (FIAD);
- Julie-Jeanne Régnault, Secretary General, European Film Agency Directors association (EFAD).
The Observatory’s Executive Director, Susanne Nikoltchev, stated that it was “a clear-cut mission for the Observatory to report on the consequences for COVID-19 for the benefit of the audiovisual industries, governments and decision-makers in Europe.” She announced that further Observatory reports on the economic consequences of the pandemic as well as a legal IRIS Plus analysis of the different measures adopted across Europe to support and guide the sector through the crisis were in the pipeline.