Publications A-Z
Below is a list of categories into which our publications have been sorted. You can also click on the tab and sort the publications by title (A-Z).
Loading...European strategy
One of the UK Film Council's policy priorities is to work with the UK Government and the European Union to contribute to the development of a strong European audiovisual policy which benefits the UK. In this section, you will find publications that relate to the European Film Agency Directors Group (EFADs), territorialisation and content online and submissions that the UK Film Council has made to the European Commission.
UK Film Council European strategy
April 2003: The UK Film Council aims to help create the conditions within Europe for a vibrant film industry, market and culture where the UK is key player. In April 2003, the Board of the UK Film Council approved a European strategy which can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
European Commission: The Italian Government’s plans for digitisation of cinemas in Italy
October 2009: The UK Film Council submitted a response to the European Commission's consultation on the scheme proposed by the Italian Government for the digitisation of cinemas in Italy. This could constitute a test case for how state aid can be used and the UK Film Council stated that the purpose of public support should not be to support exhibitors per se but to improve the public's access to a broader range of films.
European Commission: The Italian Government’s plans for digitisation of cinemas in Italy
European strategy
European Film Agency Directors group
The European Film Agency Directors group (EFADs) was established in May 2002 at the instigation of the UK Film Council and the Centre National de la Cinématographie (the national film agency for France). It is an informal network of the directors of the national film agencies of the 27 member states of the European Union plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. The EFADs is a framework for collaboration, co-ordination and exchanges of ideas on issues of common interest with regard to European audiovisual policy.
Common Declaration - State aids
March 2003: The state aid legislation which regulates competition and trade between member states across the European Union has an impact on public funding of film. Consequently, the UK Film Council and its partners in the EFADs made a common declaration in March 2003 on the importance of public support for film and making a commitment to work with the European Commission towards a state aid system best suited for film.
For other UK Film Council publications relating to State Aids, please follow this link: State Aids
New Common Declaration on state aids
May 2005: In April 2004, the European Commission responded to advocacy from the national film agencies and industry and announced it would extend its guidelines for the public funding of film for three years. The EFADs issued a New Common Declaration in 2005 to reflect EFADs' expansion to include the 10 new member states and to reiterate and reinforce the position of the national film agencies regarding the application of state aid rules to the film sector.
Common Declaration - UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity
September 2005: UNESCO's General Assembly was taking place in October 2005 to vote on the adoption of the Convention on Cultural Diversity, an instrument in support of policies to promote and protect national cultures and encourage cultural exchange that would balance countries' commitments to liberalise trade. The European Union, under the UK Presidency, played a leading role in piloting the Convention through UNESCO. The EFADs joined together to express their commitment to the principles set out in the Convention
Common Declaration - UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity
Common Declaration - The MEDIA Programme
December 2005: When the EU member states agreed the budget for the European Union, 2007-2013 (the so-called "Financial Perspectives") in December 2005, there was a concern that the budget for the MEDIA would be adversely affected. The EFADs were to lobby their national governments, the European Parliament and the Commission, and to work closely with the Austrian Presidency of the EU to help win an increase in the MEDIA budget from the level that had originally been indicated. This Declaration set out the EFADs' joint position.
Declaration on State Aid to Cinema
April 2006: As part of its review of the rules governing the public funding of film in European Union member states, the European Commission wants to ascertain whether national schemes - in the case of the UK, Lottery funding for production and tax incentives - are an aid or a hindrance to the internal market. Together with Europe's other national film agencies, the UK Film Council prepared a joint submission to explain how it was necessary in national film policies to consider economic and cultural objectives together, and that measures to promote national industries were the basis for a vibrant European film market and culture.
Common Declaration in support of Digital Cinema
October 2006: The directors of Europe's national film agencies consider that digital cinema represents a major challenge for the whole of the European film industry, especially in relation to the development of online services and the digitisation of theatrical distribution and exhibition.
Communication on the new European agenda for culture in a globalised world
May 2007: The Declaration welcomes the European Commission's Culture Communication as the basis for a coherent political approach to culture that recognises culture's contribution to the European Union's economic as well as it social and political goals. For the first time, the European Film Agency Directors were joined in the Declaration by Europe's regional film funds.
Communication on the new European agenda for culture in a globalised world
Territorialisation Study EFADs Response - Executive summary
August 2007
Territorialisation Study EFADs Response
August 2007: The interim report on the impact of territorialisation produced by consultants, Cambridge Econometrics, for the European Commission, was published in June 2007. The EFADs prepared a joint response that highlighted how the consultants had not identified that territorialisation clauses (which require that financial support given to film makers must be spent in the country or region that gives the support) distorted the market.
European Film Agency Directors (EFADs) Cinema Digitisation Common Position
September 2009: Prompted by the European Commussion consultation on a scheme proposed by Italy to give a tax credit to cinema exhibitors in Italy, the EFADs published a statement about the need for public funding to be speedily made available for digitising cinemas.
European Film Agency Directors (EFADs) Cinema Digitisation Common Position
European Commission Consultations
Communication on a European Agenda for Culture in a globalizing world
September 2007: Introductory paragraph: In May 2007, the European Commission published its Communication on a European agenda for culture in a globalizing world. This Communication proposes a basis for a comprehensive policy and plan to be pursued by European Union member states, regions, localities and organisations, as well as by the Commission itself and other European institutions, to strengthen European culture and its contribution to social, economic and foreign policy.
Communication on a European Agenda for Culture in a globalizing world
Creative Content Online
February 2008: In its response to the European Commission's consultation on creative content online, the UK Film Council drew attention to two key challenges that needed to be addressed: the promotion of cultural diversity, and the negative impact of online services on established business models. The response also raised questions about the resilience of prevailing approaches to digital rights management and a potential over-reliance on filtering in the combat against IP theft.
Public Consultation on the Future Framework for State funding of Public Service Broadcasting
March 2008: The UK Film Council responded to the European Commission's Public Consultation on the Future Framework for State funding of Public Service Broadcasting. The UK Film Council stated that it is vital that public service broadcasters remain committed to the goals and implementation of film policy. In the absence of evidence from the Commission, the UK Film Council does not consider that there is a case for updating the Broadcasting Communication.
Public Consultation on the Future Framework for State funding of Public Service Broadcasting
Public Consultation on the EU audiovisual cooperation programme MEDIA Mundus
June 2008: The UK Film Council responded to the European Commission's public consultation on MEDIA Mundus, a proposed audiovisual cooperation programme with third countries (outside of the European Union). It welcomed the initiative taking into account that "in the context of globalisation of audiovisual services, the external dimension of audiovisual policy was taking on increasing importance"It also emphasised the need for the programme to be underpinned by a realistic budget.
Public Consultation on the EU audiovisual cooperation programme MEDIA Mundus
UK Film Council response to MEDIA Mundus consultation
Safer Internet Forum on Social Networking
July 2008: The UK Film Council made a submission to the European Commission's Safer Internet Forum Questionnaire on Social Networking in which it emphasised that developing media literacy skills, competencies and confidence, from an early age, is the best strategy for addressing the challenges, and the opportunities, presented by SNS, other media and online environments.
European Commission: Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy
November 2008: In response to the European Commission Green Paper on the subject of Copyright in the Knowledge Economy, the UK Film Council endorsed the submission by the British Film Institute (BFI). Echoing the BFI, we also stressed that securing a statutory solution to the problem of making orphan works available is essential to help ensure maximum access to the benefit of both audiences and rights holders in a digital age.
European Commission: Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy
EC: Plans to extend the state aid assessment criteria of its Cinema Communication
December 2008
In its response to the European Commission's consultation, the UK Film Council welcomed the proposal to extend the life of the Cinema Communication until 2012. However, it was concerned that the promotion of cultural diversity might suffer if issues relating to the implementation of the current Cinema Communication were not urgently addressed.
EC: Plans to extend the state aid assessment criteria of its Cinema Communication
European Union's Market Access Strategy
January 2007: The UK Film Council took part in the Market Access consultation carried out by the European Commission, wishing to identify trade barriers encountered by European industry (including the film industry) and to find the best way of sharing information about the experiences of European exporters.
European Commission: Digital Europe public consultation
October 2009: The UK Film Council submitted a response to the European Commission's i2010 programme consultation. It noted that it is vital that the Commission ensures that it makes proper connections between the different digital policy initiatives being adopted by the EC in response to digital challenges.
EC: Views on the opportunities and challenges for digital cinema
December 2009: The UK Film Council responded to the EC's consultation on challenges for digital cinema, stating that the prime purpose of public support was to improve the public's access to a bigger range of films and that support from national funding bodies needed to complement support from other sources.
EC: Views on the opportunities and challenges for digital cinema
EC: The Future EU 2020 Strategy
January 2010: The UK Film council responded to the European Commission's overall strategy for the next ten years EU 2020, highlighting the role to be played by film to drive innovation, foster social inclusion, to create a greener economy and to improve policy implementation.
EC: Creative Content in a European Digital Single Market
January 2010: The UK Film Council made a submission to the European Commission's Creative Content in a European Digital Single Market, and endorsed creating "a modern, competitive, and consumer-friendly legal framework for a genuine Single Market for Creative Content Online".
European Commission Green Paper: Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries
July 2010: UK Film Council responded to the European Commission Green Paper stressing the importance of the film sector both for its specific contribution to culture and creativity and for the power of cinema to communicate, throughout Europe and beyond.
European Commission Green Paper: Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries
Territorialisation Study
