MEDIA Programme invests in 18 European VoD services

The MEDIA Programme has published the latest results of the VoD and Digital Cinema Distribution scheme. The scheme offers financial support for rights holders who wish to make their catalogues available online either to audiences directly via on-demand services or to be delivered digitally to cinemas. Over 6 million was invested in 18 such services this year by the MEDIA Programme.

In the UK, Curzon Cinemassecured 300,000 for Curzon Film on Demand, which will be launching soon, while Brightwidereceived 200,000, and joiningthedocs.tvwas awarded 250,000. The majority of services awarded this year have been supported in the previous calls for proposals, for example MUBI, Universciné, Doc Alliance Filmsand Europa Film Treasures. Services new to MEDIA include Denmark's MyFilmStationand Germany's filmmit. The French company CN Filmsreceived an award for the European Digital Cinema Library, a service which stores digital material and delivers films to cinemas.

The VoD/DCD scheme, since it first launched in 2007, has allocated 24 million to improve audience access to European film via new digital technologies.

To support further innovative technological solutions the MEDIA Programme runs the Pilot Projects scheme, for which the results have also recently been published. Five recipients shared 1.5 million investment, including two from the UK: The Twofour Groupreceived 312,000 for Smart Entertainment, and Peaceful Fishwas awarded 175,000 for Digital Alfie. Moviepilot's Support Your Local Cinemawas also amongst recipients.

Publication date: 03 Dec 2010