AVMS Directive – Great progress to support Europe’s audiovisual works

The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA), whose members represent over 120,000 screenwriters and directors, welcomes the Council’s position. The announcement came during the Cannes film festival and followed a call by over 90 filmmakers for Europe to be more ambitious with it cultural policies and supportive of authors in its Copyright review. The adopted position of the Culture Council is particularly positive as it:

• It supports quotas of 30% for European works on VOD platforms in line with the European Parliament – an essential, measurable criteria to ensure prominence in an increasingly algorithm driven digital environment.
• Recognises that services that target markets and Member States with ambitious cultural programmes and financial support schemes are subject to the same rules as other operators targeting the same market.
• Reins in the Commission’s proposal for excessive advertising during films on TV, as also proposed by the European Parliament.

Cécile Despringre, SAA’s Executive Director said: “The Council’s general approach establishes 2 very positive principles. Firstly, that European works, and the cultural, creative and linguistic diversity they represent, need to have an opportunity to reach the audience in a crowded market. Secondly, that fair competition is essential and services operating in the same market need to be subject to the same fiscal and cultural policy rules.”

About SAA

Founded in 2010, the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) is the association of European collective management organisations representing audiovisual authors. Its 31 members in 23 countries manage rights for over 120,000 film, television and multimedia European screenwriters and directors. www.saa-authors.eu @saabrussels
Press contact: Cécile Despringre, c.despringre@saa-authors.eu - +32 475 65 24 99.