EU funding for film and audiovisual projects is subject to specific criteria and considerations. While each EU member state may have its own regulations, there are general guidelines that apply to the allocation of EU funds.
Spending and Shooting Criteria: Applicants for EU funding are typically required to spend an amount equal to the subsidy granted in their respective countries. However, there may be flexibility to spend a portion of the budgeted production costs in other member states of the European Union or in countries that are party to the Agreement establishing the European Economic Area.
Talent, Cast, Crew, and Copyright: EU funding does not impose strict requirements based on the nationality of talent, cast, and crew, or the underlying copyrights. However, the nationality of talent and the connection of the underlying copyright to the country may be taken into consideration during the application assessment process.
Shooting Language and Diversity: There are generally no specific requirements related to the shooting language, ethnic or linguistic minorities, or gender. However, diversity, gender equality, and the representation of various ethnic backgrounds are often evaluated as selection criteria during the assessment of applications.
Stakeholder Positions
Main Stakeholders in the Film Industry: The film industry involves a broad range of stakeholders, including filmmakers, producers, distributors, exhibitors, audiences, and public authorities. Each stakeholder group has its own interests and perspectives on the issues related to film financing.
Positions of Stakeholders: The positions of stakeholders vary widely. Filmmakers and producers generally advocate for more public funding and flexible financing models. Distributors and exhibitors, on the other hand, are more concerned with market access and competition issues. Public authorities, for their part, are tasked with balancing the cultural and economic objectives of film support policies.
Evolution of Film Support Policies in Europe
Types of Film Support Policies
European film support policies have evolved over time, adapting to the changing dynamics of the film industry. These policies can be broadly categorized into direct and indirect support measures. Direct support includes grants, subsidies, and loans provided for film production, distribution, and promotion. Indirect support involves fiscal incentives such as tax credits and rebates aimed at attracting film productions to specific locations.
Pan-European Film Support Policies
At the Pan-European level, the EU has implemented several programs to support the film industry. The most notable among them is the Creative Europe’s MEDIA sub-program that supports the development, distribution, and promotion of European films. Other initiatives include the European Film Promotion, a network of film promotional agencies from different European countries, and the Eurimages fund, which supports co-productions among its member states.
Role of Film Heritage Institutions
Film Heritage Institutions (FHIs) in Europe play a crucial role in preserving and promoting European film heritage. They are tasked with collecting, cataloguing, storing, preserving, and providing access to European films. The advent of digital technology has added another dimension to their responsibilities – digitizing the vast repository of films and making them accessible in the digital environment.