EFADs adopted a position paper on the DSM highlighting the major opportunities and challenges, at its plenary session in Cannes. EFADs brings together the heads of the national film agencies responsible for film funding and advising on government policy in 31 European countries.
The EFADs position paper stresses in particular that:
• The development of the digital audiovisual market should be seen as an economic and cultural opportunity for Europe.
• However, both the financing of European films and distributing them to audiences can be challenging processes. It is important that policy-makers adapt existing fiscal, regulatory and competition law frameworks in a way that enhances cultural diversity over time, rather than diminishing it.
• In particular, it is important that ways are found to stimulate the growth of online distribution so that it benefits the financing, production and distribution of European films.
• The strategic challenge is to secure a stronger economic commitment from newer online services equal to the established players such as cinemas, distributors, public and private television.
Therefore the EFADs recommend that the European Commission develops policies and action lines which:
• Help build a sustainable and fair market place and help create a level playing field between all European and global market players.
• Give special attention to new kinds of barriers for an open and competitive digital single audiovisual market, as there is a risk of misuse of dominant market positions by companies.
• Enhance access to and promotion of European works. This should be done partly by ensuring access to a more attractive legal offer of European films.
• Develop the audience by fostering media literacy and thereby increasing people’s understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of film.
• Ensure stable and clear copyright rules and fair remuneration of creators; the territoriality principle on which the whole ecosystem of audiovisual and film financing is based must be preserved and there must be more effective enforcement of rights in the digital era.
To read the EFADS policy paper and press release in full click HERE. If you are a film professional and want to share your views on DSM email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
