Brussels, 15/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are organising a roundtable on EU support for European cinema, on 17 May in Cannes during the annual film festival and tradeshow. The Commissioner for Audiovisual, Viviane Reding, deplores the fact that American films absorb 75% of the film receipts in Europe, while the EU produces more films than the United States. She hopes that European operators take advantage of the single market. The aim is to encourage the meeting of banks and European producers for them to network. We have identified a lack of support for small and medium productions with European content, added Christophe Forax, spokesperson for Mrs Reding. Among the persons contacted by the Commission, are among others, on the producer side, Canal Plus and France Television and, on the banking side, Deutsche Bank, PNB Parisbas, OBC, Barclays. The EIB President, Philippe Maystadt, will be present at the roundtable alongside Mrs Reding.
Two instruments targeted at the European audiovisual industry will be at the heart of the debate: the "i2i Audiovisual" initiative, which mobilises EUR 600 million, and Media Plus (2001-2005), for a total of EUR 400 million. The i2i Audiovisual side is composed of: 1) medium to long-term loans for investments of at least EUR 20 million carried out by private or public groups in terms of infrastructure, such as studios, digitalisation facilities, broadcasting stations, or distribution; 2) global loans are also foreseen for the banking sector specialised in audiovisual; 3) stakes in the venture capital funds specialised in audiovisual. Media Plus intervenes, as for it, in the development, distribution and promotion of films. Its aims are to improve the competitiveness of the European film industry and to promote the circulation of European films. Several films, present at Cannes benefit from this aid, including "La repetition" by Catherine Corsini (France), "La Pianiste", by Michael Haneke (Greece), "Clouds", by Marion Hansel (Man's Film Productions Belgium). Synergies have been developed between the two programmes that foresee, notably the training of personnel in the banking sector by Media Plus to create management teams for specialised venture capital funds. The companies taking part in "i2i audiovisual" will enjoy a simplified eligibility for an aid from Media Plus. Media 2, which covered the 1996-2000 period, supported, notably, 1,960 European films, including some which won prizes, 281 European production companies, 1,300 production campaigns and 380 television works.