The petition is coordinated by L'ARP - Association of French film professionals. You can add your name to the list by sending an email to: petitioncineastes@larp.fr.
For a brief summary of the facts, please read the letter below sent out by EAVE.
MEDIA IN DANGER - CALL FOR SUPPORT!
Dear colleagues and fellow professionals,
As most of you might have heard, the future existence of the MEDIA programme from 2014 onwards is under serious threat.
We believe that in the past 20 years the MEDIA programme has decisively contributed to strengthening the European industry through the support of development, training, markets/festivals and distribution including the creation of genuine networks of European producers who have developed and produced co-productions which have won numerous top awards and been widely distributed. These networks, of which EAVE is one good example, have become the backbone of the European industry. Abolishing or cutting the budget for this programme or merging it within another programme would be a fatal blow for the European film industry. In addition the loss of MEDIA Mundus, a relatively new programme which enables completely new global cultural and economic relationships to be built, would mean the end of an imaginative and forward looking initiative at its exciting and timely birth.
The support of European film professionals and industry is needed more than ever to express how vital the MEDIA programme is for our industry.
The French association ARP, further to a discussion with the CNC of the various European countries, decided to make a petition of European filmmakers and professionals.
They have already received the support of many great names of the European cinema, the support of many filmmakers and professionals and invite you to sign the petition.
In the name of the European organizations and networks, a common letter has been sent to Mr Jose Manuel Barroso at the European Commission. Find the text for further information here.
Come to the Public Hearing!
On March 18, 2011, a public hearing will be organized in Brussels. The event will be organised by MEDIA to discuss future needs/plans. There will be invited speakers from different media disciplines followed by a 'public discussion'. It is crucial that many European film professionals attend the event in order to take the opportunity to express doubts/worries/need for clarification regarding the future of MEDIA. Please try to attend if you can possibly make the time. A small crowd will make a fatally wrong signal to the European Commission. For details and registration see the MEDIA website.
Thanks for your precious support.
With best wishes, EAVE