08/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Karel De Gucht fails to reassure European film-makers. European film-makers Stijn Coninx, Jaco Van Dormael, Michael Roskam, Michel Hazanavicius, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Jochen Greve and Jan Theys met EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on 6 May to explain their fears about a future EU-United States free-trade deal, asking for cinema and broadcasting to be excluded from the Commission's negotiating mandate in order to preserve EU policies encouraging cultural diversity in Europe. There was little meeting of minds. De Gucht told them that he was not planning to jeopardise European cultural policy and tried to convince them of the benefits of the free-trade talks. In a press release, the film-makers say that the commissioner had only increased their concerns. The film-makers launched a petition in April 2013, which already has 4,500 signatures, and plan to continue their talks with De Gucht at the Cannes film festival. (EH/transl.fl)