Press

We serve European and international journalists with our press releases. We regularly publish facts, figures and analysis from our latest publications or conference presentations in the form of press releases targeting the journalist community.

All press releases are available in English, French and German. We also offer free copies of our publications to bona fide journalists who quote our work in their articles or write about our publications.

Our experts and analysts are often solicited to answer journalists' questions and participate in radio and television programmes. We are very glad to do this inasmuch as the work involved in producing our publications allows.

If you wish to join our unique network of journalists covering the audiovisual industries, or simply wish to receive our press releases for information, send an email to the Observatory's Press Officer (see details on the right). We look forward to satisfying your information needs.

For any press releases prior to 2017, please contact alison.hindhaugh@coe.int

Latest press releases

Back From cinema to sofa: is COVID accelerating a production shift from theatrical to non-theatrical?

Published 15/06/21

European Audiovisual Observatory announces its 2021 Cannes conference online

From cinema to sofa: is COVID accelerating a production shift from theatrical to non-theatrical?

Tuesday 13 July 2021 from 15.00 to 17.00 CEST

COVID sent us all to our sofas to watch our favourite films during lockdown. And only now, over a year later, are cinemas opening up again and welcoming back their audiences. But was COVID the cause or just an accelerator of an already established move from big screen to small? And what was the effect of this move from cinema to sofa on the production of films and series? The European Audiovisual Observatory’s Cannes conference this year will take place online as part of the Cannes Marché du Film and be simultaneously streamed on YouTube as well. You can already register free online here.

The Observatory’s traditional annual Cannes conference took place entirely online last year and will repeat the exercise this year, hoping for next year’s return to real life! This year’s conference will look at the audiovisual production shift from theatrical to non-theatrical during the pandemic (and before?) and dive into some key questions. What are the inherent differences between theatrical and non-theatrical production, notably high-end series? What was the real effect of COVID on production and the switch from big screens to small? What are the stakes, risks, and possibly even chances for production companies in Europe, given this trend? And what can the industry do, along with policy makers and public bodies, to protect its interests, counteract the threat to independent production and ensure cultural diversity?

The Observatory’s Experts, Maja Cappello and Gilles Fontaine, will provide their traditional scene setting information linked to this year’s theme. Our conference is divided into two distinct panels: industry shifts and policy shifts. As every year we’ll be bringing together a stellar panel of cinema industry professionals, broadcasters, streamers, policy makers and representatives from public bodies such as film institutes. Our speakers and programme will be announced in due course.

The Observatory’s Executive Director, Susanne Nikoltchev said she was looking forward to another online Observatory Cannes conference, before hopefully getting back to real presence in 2022. She felt that it was “high time to take stock of the effects of COVID on production in Europe” and anticipated a “thoroughly energetic discussion of possible solutions for the European film industry”.

Event programme