18/05/2026
📣 Thousands of cinema professionals, including prominent directors, screenwriters, actors and industry leaders from across Europe and beyond, have united around one message: Europe needs cinema. Cinema needs Europe. 🎬
They have signed an open letter calling on the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States to preserve and reinforce the MEDIA programme as a major instrument of support for European independent cinema.
For over 35 years, MEDIA has helped European stories travel across borders supporting independent production, theatrical distribution, festivals, training, and a thriving audiovisual ecosystem across the continent.
⚠️ Today, that success story is under threat. As part of negotiations on the EU budget for 2028-2034, the EU Commission proposes to integrate MEDIA into the new AgoraEU programme. While the overall budget may increase, the current proposal offers no guaranteed, dedicated funding for the film and audiovisual sector. The text remains vague with no assurance that the key actions that made MEDIA successful will continue.
This open letter celebrates MEDIA's role in promoting cultural diversity, artistic freedom, jobs, innovation and European soft power, and calls for the programme's future to be secured and its resources reinforced.
✍🏽 Add your name to the petition: https://form.jotform.com/261123392857056
At Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes, attendees will wear badges bearing the slogan "Europe needs cinema," a small but visible sign of solidarity for European cinema.
A coalition of European associations including Europa International, Europa Distribution, European Producers Club, FERA, ✨SAA, ATC (Audiovisual Training Coalition) and FAME, initiated this letter.
https://www.saa-authors.eu/articles/open-letter-on-media-and-european-cinema
