About MEDIA Programme
About MEDIA Programme
The MEDIA Programme is one of a number of support programmes operated by the EU. It was established in 1991 and focuses on promoting competitiveness and circulation of European audiovisual works on the international market. Since 1991, the Programme has been implemented in 5 to 7 year cycles. The current MEDIA 2007 Programme was launched on 1 January, 2007 and it will run until the end of 2013.
The total budget of MEDIA 2007 for the period of 2007-2013 is EUR 755 million
Similarly as the previous programmes, the new programme focuses on promoting activities associated with the pre-production of audiovisual works (training, development) as well as the stages that follow (distribution, promotion).
The financial support available under the MEDIA Programme covers the following fields:
Producer´s support
Project development
TV Broadcasting
Access to financing
Cinema distribution of European films
Selective scheme
Automatic scheme
Sales Agents
Training
Initial training
Continuous training
Festivals
Promotion
Market Access - European film markets, pitching and co-production forums
Promotion outside Europe
New technologies
Video-on-demand and digital cinema distribution
Pilot Projects
Exhibition
Europa Cinemas
Financial support can be obtained by any company or organisation submitting projects that meet the support award criteria. Applications for support can be submitted only as a part of the regularly opened calls for proposals.
Objectives:
- to preserve and enhance European cultural diversity and its cinematographic and audiovisual heritage, guarantee accessibility to this for Europeans and promote intercultural dialogue;
- to increase the circulation of European audiovisual works inside and outside the European Union;
- to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector in the framework of an open and competitive market.
Measures funded under MEDIA 2007 must:
- take account of both the importance of the creative process in the European audiovisual sector and the cultural value of Europe's cinematographic and audiovisual heritage.
- strengthen the production structures of small businesses to make the European audiovisual sector more competitive, as they constitute its core. This will mean contributing to the spread of a business culture for the sector and facilitating private investment.
- reduce imbalances between European countries with a high audiovisual production capacity and countries with low production capacity or a restricted linguistic area. This priority responds to the need to preserve and enhance cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue in Europe. It will foster transparency and competition on the single market, and thereby potential economic growth for the whole Union.
Legislative framework of MEDIA 2007
Decision No. 1718/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 concerning the implementation of a support programme for the European audiovisual sector (MEDIA 2007).
History:
MEDIA I (1991-1995)
MEDIA II (1996-2000)
MEDIA Plus (2001-2006)
MEDIA 2007 (2007-2013)
