What does the future hold for European cinema and its independence, in the face of commercial pressures from the United States?
Giornate degli Autori resumes the debate on the outlook for the film and audiovisual industry in its space called “La declaration des cinéastes”, with this year’s conference taking the name Cinèastes en dialogue, to be held on Sunday, August 31st, at 12:30, in the Italian Pavilion at the Hotel Excelsior. It’s an opportunity for all the filmmakers attending the Venice Film Festival to grapple with issues that are central to their activity: creative independence and freedom of expression. These are both threatened by growing commercial pressure from the United States, starting with the “tariff war”, the consequences of which, for the pillars of European policy in the film and audiovisual arena – such as the “cultural exception” – could well be devastating.
Films are indispensable cultural assets in the life of a democracy: the common ground on which European culture is founded. It is crucial to defend the independence of Europe’s film and audiovisual sector as a guarantee of a plurality of views and opinions. Film and audiovisual production must not be bartered away in economic negotiations between the U.S. and Europe. The fight for control over the markets is a concrete threat for European writers and directors, musicians and film adapters who champion an open and pluralist vision of creativity.
Recent declarations by the European Commission (last July 16th) are troubling indeed. Film is shoehorned into a single item on the balance sheet, together with television and radio media, video games, and print outlets. No specific allocation of funds has been defined, and the principle of independence has been removed from the description of aid available.
Defending the creative freedom and pluralism of media should not come at the expense of diversity and creative safeguards. It is crucial to guarantee frameworks for independent European film production and distribution, a necessary prerequisite for the vitality of the sector and its ability to innovate. The meeting is organized by ANAC, 100autori, WGI, AIDAC, SRF, ARP, and ACMF, in collaboration with FERA, and participants in the debate include filmmakers representing European cinema today.
