Brussels, 27/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - The results of the first call for projects under a new EU initiative, the MEDIA International Preparatory Action, reflect considerable interest from audiovisual sectors around the world in working with Europe's film and audiovisual sector, the European Commission is pleased to state in a press release published on Wednesday 27 August. MEDIA International aims to enlarge the mutual circulation of films and strengthen cooperation between the audiovisual industries of European Union countries and third countries. The EU will provide a financial contribution of nearly €2 million for 18 projects involving partners from around the world: Canada, Latin America, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey and Georgia. Projects cover joint training of those working in the sector, reciprocal promotion of cinematographic works and cooperation between cinema networks. They may also prepare the road for a more far-reaching EU cooperation programme in the cinematographic sector, called MEDIA MUNDUS, as of 2011.
“The positive reactions to the Commission's call for projects is a good preview of the EU's role in supporting cooperation that can create new business opportunities and boost Europe's audiovisual industries”, comments Viviane Reding, European Media Commissioner.
Of 33 applications received in the first MEDIA International call for projects (http: //ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/prep_action/index_en.htm), the Commission has selected 18 proposals to receive funding for continuous training of audiovisual professionals through partnerships with Latin America, India, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia for films, televised shows, cartoons, documentaries and video games. The Cartoon Connection project, for example, will allow joint training on developing and financing international co-produced cartoons for professionals from the EU, Latin America and Canada. Primexchange is a workshop for authors and producers from India and Europe on financing and marketing audiovisual works, with special focus on digital technologies.
The six projects selected by the Commission for promotion of audiovisual works focus on boosting co-production. Thus, the European Producers' Club will organise co-production workshops in China and India. The DOMLA project will organise a documentary month, releasing 12 European documentaries in Chile and vice versa distributing Latin-American documentaries in Europe. The Paris project is a co-production event for European, Japanese and South-Korean producers.
Finally, MEDIA International will support the first international network of cinemas, coordinated by Europa Cinemas, with 230 cinemas in Europe and 148 cinemas from the rest of the world (10 in Brazil, 7 in South Korea, 6 in Japan and Argentina). (L.C./transl.jl)