News focus February 2012: 2012 - A crucial year for MEDIA

Welcome to our new-look website and e-bulletin, packed with news and sparkling with European film talent.

As the film industry gears up for this year’s Berlinale and the world looks forward to awards season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the impact that MEDIA funding has had on Europe’s film industry. This month MEDIA-funded films are visible all over the place: there are 12 in the BAFTA nominations, nine in the Oscar® nominations, and 18 are screening in Berlin.

As part of the 20^th anniversary celebrations for MEDIA last year, MEDIA Desk UK interviewed Mike Leigh who articulated clearly the value that MEDIA brings to the film industry and how it plays a key part in enabling filmmakers to maintain their independence and tell stories that are truthful and engaging. Click on the feature box on the left to watch the interview.

2012 will be a crucial year for the future of the MEDIA Programme. In December 2011 the European Commission unveiled plans to run the existing MEDIA and Culture Programmes together under one programme called Creative Europe, which will run from 2014-2020 with a budget of €1.8 billion. This would mean both an increased budget for MEDIA and Culture (compared to their respective current budgets), as well as the introduction of a new financial instrument designed to help small businesses in the creative industries have easier access to private financing.

Negotiations regarding the content and budget of this new programme will be ongoing throughout this year. The UK government has launched a public consultation to gather opinions on the proposal, which is open until 16 March 2012. With this in mind, MEDIA Desk UK will host a briefing by Aviva Silver, Head of the MEDIA Programme at the European Commission, about the Creative Europe proposal, in London on 6 March 2012. Please take the time to send your opinions on the Creative Europe proposal to the UK government in order to make sure this essential public funding from the European Union for the film and television industries is safeguarded.

Publication date: 06 Feb 2012