Brussels, 18/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 18 September, the European Commission announced funding of €5 million in 2009 to strengthen cultural and commercial relations between Europe's film industry and film-makers of third countries. “The €5 million announced today for project funding demonstrates the EU's enhanced commitment to boosting Europe's audiovisual industries internationally”, said Viviane Reding, EU Media Commissioner. It will allow European film makers and other audiovisual professionals to learn new skills and promote the industry by cooperating with professionals outside Europe, and vice-versa. Forty projects will benefit from EU funding. They include joint training, reciprocal promotion, distribution and film screenings and other actions to encourage audiences in Europe and abroad to discover foreign films. Funding is under MEDIA International, an initiative for EU funding of international film cooperation started in 2008. This year, funding and the number of projects selected have more than doubled compared to 2008 (when the EU allocated €2 million to 18 projects), thanks to the European Parliament which, last December, voted a budgetary increase for international cooperation in the film sector. (I.L./transl.jl)