SAA NEWSFEED

AN END TO BUYOUTS IN EUROPE - SAA, FERA, FSE Joint Statement

2012-04-10

Three important authors’ bodies are coming together to demand legislation for equitable rights payments for European film and television directors and screenwriters. They are calling for unwaivable enforceable rights, fair contracts and stronger resistance to arguments put out by the pirate lobby.

SAA, which represents authors throughout Europe who are members of collecting societies; FERA, which represents European film and television directors; and FSE which represents European screenwriters, are united in our commitment to facilitating production and distribution of our members’ work...

Private copying remuneration – new study highlights positive impact

2012-03-28

Removal of private copying remuneration would be detrimental not only to rightholders, but also to manufacturers and consumers, according to a new study published by Compass Lexecon.

The study authored by Lorenzo, Padilla and Requejo, economists at Compass Lexecon ("Compass Lexecon” study) undertakes an economic analysis of “The welfare effects of private...

Event - Les Cinéastes Invitent ... Emanuele Crialese

2012-03-02

SAA, L'ARP and the SACD have come together to organise an exclusive screening of TERRAFERMA, in the presence of its director, Emanuele Crialese, in Paris 13th March (Cinéma des Cinéastes).

The screening will be followed by a discussion lead by Cécile Despringre, SAA Executive Director, and Jean-Jacques Beineix, Vice-President of L’ARP.

The discussion will look at artistic aspects of the film, but also the way the cinema sector works in different...

European Screenwriters and Directors meet Vice-President Kroes - Digital Future Needs to Support Authors’ Creativity

2012-02-23

SAA Press Release - Brussels, 23/2/12 Delegation of leading European Audiovisual Authors presents their vision for the future of the online market – one that brings their works to as many people as possible while guaranteeing authors a fair deal and securing the financing of future works.

The delegation, which included prominent authors Robert Alberdingk Thijm (A’dam E.V.A), Fred Breinersdorfer (Sophie Scholl), Bertrand Tavernier (The Princess of Montpensier) and Susanna White (Generation Kill), met Vice-President Kroes in Brussels on 22nd February.

Recognising that it...

Evénement - Les Cineastes Invitent… L’ami Européen

2012-02-15

1er Invité: Joachim Trier (Norvège)

L'ARP, la SAA et la SACD sont heureuses d’accueillir lundi 20 février à 20h au Cinéma des Cinéastes, le réalisateur norvégien Joachim Trier, pour l’avant-première de son film Oslo 31 août, à l'occasion de...

SAA elected onto board of Cultural and Creative Industries Platform

2012-02-07

SAA was elected on to the board of the European Platform on the potential of the European Cultural and creative Industries at the platform’s plenary meeting on January 12th 2012.

SAA has been a member of the platform, which was set up at the initiative of the European Commission following its Communication on a European Agenda in 2007, since 2010. The platform’s initial aim was to bring together a diverse range of actors from the cultural and creative industries...

Event: European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity Culture, an added value for Europe

2012-01-30

Tuesday January 31st, 2012, 12:00-14:30 (lunch) Library Solvay (Rue Belliard 137, 1040 Bruxelles)

More information here.

Janine Lorente Elected Chair of SAA Board of Directors

2012-01-03

The board of the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) has unanimously elected SACD Deputy General Manager, Janine Lorente, as its new Chair. The election was held as Gerhard Pfennig stepped down from his position as Managing Director at VG Bild-Kunst after 33 years at the German society. As part of the elections Robert Staats, Managing Director of VG Wort, was elected as Vice Chair, as Scam Director General, Hervé Rony, stepped down.

Cécile Despringre, SAA Executive Director said “All of SAA’s members would like to thank Gerhard for all of his work in helping us establish ourselves and successfully launch our proposal for a collectively managed unwaivable remuneration right for audiovisual authors. His experience...

Season's Greetings

2011-12-21

SAA wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a happy and prosperous 2012. See our Season's Greetings card here.

Audiovisual Authors Online - Paul Powell Keynote

2011-12-02

Paul Powell's keynote speech at SAA's conference - Audiovisual Authors Online - Seizing the Digital Revolution.

Good afternoon, it’s an honour to be here and to be given this opportunity to address the conference, in front of so many distinguished guests, including members of the European Commission, the European Parliament and collective management organisations.

And to be sharing the stage...

Audiovisual authors call on legislators to link them to the success of their works online

2011-11-30

European officials and a variety of actors from across the audiovisual sector came together in Brussels on 29th November 2011 to look at what the digital revolution means for audiovisual authors like directors and screenwriters and came up with concrete ideas for how this revolution could be seized as an opportunity to finally link authors’ remuneration more directly to the success of their works.

Organised by the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA), the conference was supported by four MEPs from different countries and political groups who guided the afternoon’s discussions: Mr Berlinguer (Italy, S&D), Mr Borys (Poland, EPP), Mrs Trüpel (Germany, Greens) and Mrs Wikström...

SAA Conference Audiovisual authors online - seizing the digital revolution

2011-11-29

Getting works out and remuneration in

UPDATE: Videos of the conference and interviews with some of the speakers can be found here.

The conference was held on 29^th November at Concert Noble in...

European Rightholders Welcome New Private Copying Mediator

2011-11-24

European rightholders welcome the recent appointment of Mr Antonio Vitorino as the mediator in the dialogue on private copying remuneration.

We are very pleased that such a high profile person has been appointed which sends a strong signal as to the importance of the issue at stake.

As has been re-iterated many times before, the right holders are very much open to discussion on this issue and regret the time that has been...

SAA Green Paper response underlines need for unwaivable authors’ remuneration right for online

2011-11-22

SAA submitted its response to the EC’s Green Paper on the Online Distribution of Audiovisual Works calling for the European Commission to support its proposal for a collectively managed unwaivable remuneration right for the online access to films.

Following up on its White Paper and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Audiovisual Authors’ Rights and Remuneration in Europe the SAA further explained and justified how their proposal for an unwaivable remuneration right for online would help guarantee that directors and...

European Parliament Announces LUX Prize Winner and Adopts Digital Cinema Report

2011-11-17

"Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro” by Robert Guédiguian announced winner as European Parliament adopts report supporting the digitisation of European cinemas.

Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro” by Robert Guédiguian was announced as the winner of the European Parliament’s 2011 LUX Prize on 16th November. MEPs voted for their favourite of three finalists (the others being Attenberg by Athina Rachel Tsangari and Play by Ruben Östlund) at a number of...

SAA recommends amendments to orphan works Directive proposal text

2011-11-07

SAA has submitted its opinion on the proposal for a Directive on orphan works that is currently making its way through the European Parliament and the Council.

SAA underlined its main concerns for the document:

- The proposed mechanism which permits cultural institutions to use orphan works looks like a new exception to authors’ rights;

- It does not...

State aid for films and other audiovisual works

2011-10-04

SAA has submitted its response to the EC's consultation calling for broader legal certainty for financial support schemes

The submission calls for the broadening of the scope of the Cinema Communication which defines the guidelines for the European Commission assessment of the national financial support schemes for film productions. Any revision of these guidelines should include pre and post production activities...

European Commission Green Paper on online distribution of audiovisual works

2011-07-15

The European Commission published its Green Paper on “Online Distribution of Audiovisual Works in the EU – opportunities and challenges towards a digital single market” on 13th July 2011.

As expected the Green Paper asks a large number of questions on the future of the sector. Significantly, SAA’s proposal of linking audiovisual authors to the success of their works is included as a...

Authors Day at the Brussels Film Festival

2011-06-24

The Brussels Film Festival in partnership with SACD, the ARRF and the SAA is organising an authors day on 28th June from 2pm including a panel on the arrival of digital in European cinemas and a lesson in cinema from award-winning directors Bouli Lanners ("Eldorado", "Les Géants"), Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel ("Rumba", "La Fée"). Free registration at network@brff.be.

The afternoon starts with a debate on the impact of digital on European cinemas.

Participants:
Gérard Krawzcyk (réalisateur, SACD France, ARP)
Piotr Borys (Member of the European Parliament)

Audiovisual Authors’ Societies Offer Collaboration to Producers on Digital Future

2011-06-09

9th June 2011 - The Society of Audiovisual Author’s (SAA’s) chairman of the board of directors Gerhard Pfennig, speaking at the CISAC World Copyright Summit on Wednesday 9th June 2011, offered an open hand of collaboration to Europe’s producers, in the organisation’s efforts to guarantee a digital market that remunerates filmmakers.

The proposition came during the session entitled “Fair deals for audiovisual creators” which brought together the SAA chairman of the board of directors as well as Spanish director Imanol Uribe, French filmmaker Jean-Paul Salomé, Polish film producer Dariusz Jablonski and CEO of Directors...

European Directors and Screenwriters present SAA White Paper to Culture Commissioner

2011-05-31

Some of Europe’s leading audiovisual creators and CEO’s of Europe’s audiovisual collective management societies presented the Society of Audiovisual Author’s (SAA’s) White Paper investigating the rights and remuneration of audiovisual authors in the digital age. The meeting was timely following the publication of the Commission’s communication on a Single Market for Intellectual Property Rights which confirmed that the subject will be treated in the forthcoming Commission Audiovisual Green Paper.

Leading European directors and screenwriters Fred Breinersdorfer (Sophie Scholl), Stijn Coninx (Koko Flanel, Soeur Sourire), Bertrand Tavernier (Un dimanche à la campagne, La Princesse de Montpensier), Jaco Van Dormael (Toto the Hero, Mr Nobody), Virgina Yagüe (Aráyan, El...

SAA calls for clarity in intellectual property rights enforcement consultation response

2011-04-06

SAA has submitted its response to the European Commission’s consultation on intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement. The contribution focuses on the general problems which have arisen from the implementation of the 2004 Directive on IPR enforcement, in particular in the digital online environment.

It calls for 3 main actions:

improved notification procedures that enable illegal content to be taken down,
increased education and awareness raising initiatives and
the need for a fair balance between IPR protection and privacy...

World Copyright Summit on 7 and 8 June in Brussels

2011-03-11

The World Copyright Summit organised on 7 and 8 June by CISAC in Brussels will gather creators, rights organisations, publishers, producers, policy makers, media and content providers, internet operators and legal and technology experts, who will exchange ideas and debate about the future of intellectual property and creative works in the digital environment.

The slogan for the World Copyright Summit, “Creating value in the digital economy”, reflects the three main themes to be addressed during this two-day conference:

Create: The global eco-system for creators and creative industries
Connect: The...

Petition for the MEDIA programme

2011-02-23

At a time when the European Commision is preparing its proposal for the next financial framework after 2013, the independence and the budget of the MEDIA programme, which supports the European audiovisual industry, are threatened.

Join the

SAA White Paper - Download

2011-02-21

SAA White Paper opens debate on audiovisual authors’ rights and remuneration in Europe

2011-02-21

White Paper to raise awareness of the legal and practical situation of audiovisual authors in Europe in terms of their rights and remuneration. New solutions are needed in the digital era.

The audiovisual industry makes a vital contribution to Europe both economically and culturally. There are currently approximately one million people directly working in the European audiovisual industry, an industry with more than €108 billion of growth revenues in 2009. SAA believes that the...

SAA participates in Public Hearing on Bringing Europe's Cultural Heritage Online

2010-11-09

Following the online consultation on boosting cultural heritage online in Europe organized by the European Commission at the end of the summer, the Reflection Group (Comité des Sages) whose three members Elisabeth Niggemann, Director general of the German National Library, Maurice Lévy, CEO of Publicis and Jacques De Decker, writer have been appointed by Commissioner Kroes and Vassiliou in April 2010 to make recommendations on ways and means to make Europe's cultural heritage and creativity available on the Internet, looking in particular at funding sources, at how cultural organisations and the private sector can interact in the digital age, and at responsibilities and solutions for digitising material that is in the public domain or still in copyright, organised a public hearing on 28 October 2010.

The hearing, chaired by Maurice Lévy, brought together 100 participants in a lively discussion nurtured by the questions of the Reflection Group. SAA presented proposals for a successful partnership for the digitization, archiving and online making available of European cultural heritage...

SAA Board of Patrons meets Commissioner Barnier

2010-10-25

Authors of the SAA Board of Patrons and CEOs of SAA members met today Michel Barnier, the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, in order to exchange views and explain the challenges that the audiovisual sector is faced with at the European level.

Costa-Gavras, (Z, Missing, Amen, Eden à l’Ouest), Jaco Van Dormael (Toto le Héros, Le huitième jour, Mr. Nobody), Fred Breinersdorfer (Sophie Scholl, the Final Days), Stijn Coninx (Koko Flanel, Daens, Soeur Sourire),...

Gallo report adopted

2010-09-23

MEP Gallo’s report on enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market has been adopted yesterday in the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg by 328 in favour, 245 against.

The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) along with nine other creators’ organisations that include the European Council of Artists (ECA), European Visual Artists (EVA), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), European Writers’ Council (EWC), Federation of European Film Directors (FERA),...

SAA supports Gallo report together with nine other creators’ organisations

2012-09-15

The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) along with nine other creators’ organisations issued a joint statement giving their full support to MEP Gallo’s report on enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market.

Other signatory organisations include the European Council of Artists (ECA), European Visual Artists (EVA), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), European Writers’ Council (EWC), Federation of European Film Directors (FERA), International Federation of Actors (FIA), International...

SAA contributes to EC Green Paper consultation.

2010-08-26

SAA contributed to the public consultation opened by the European Commission regarding the Green Paper “Unlocking the potential of Cultural and Creative Industries”.

The objective of this consultation is to gather views on various issues impacting the cultural and creative industries in Europe - including the audiovisual sector, from business environment to the need to open up a common European space for culture, from capacity building to ...

SAA defends AV authors' rights on Europarl TV

2010-07-13

SAA executive director Cécile Despringre appeared on a televised debate with MEP Christian Engström of Sweden's Pirate Party about authors' rights on the internet.

The debate was screen on European Parliament's official channel, Europarl TV, and it is available in all official EU languages.

Renowned European audiovisual authors support EP’s report on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

2010-07-05

In a letter addressed to the Members of the European Parliament the SAA Board of Patrons gave its full support to Marielle Gallo’s report on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in the Internal Market.

The SAA Board of Patrons, a body comprised of renowned European audiovisual authors such as Jaco Van Dormael, Notting Hill director Roger Michell and the critically-acclaimed filmmaking duo Jean-Pierre & Luc...

SAA launch attracts the attention of the media

2010-06-23

The twin launches of the Society of Audiovisual Authors in Cannes and Brussels attracted extensive European media coverage. Belgian newspaper DeMorgen, Italian news agency ANSA, and historic French newspaper L'Humanité reported on the events.

Members of the film industry press also covered the launch of the new organisation, namely publications such as Cineuropa, Le Film Français and Sonovision.

SAA public launch videos

2010-06-11

The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) was launched on 11th May. Journalists, representatives from the SAA member collecting societies and a variety of Brussels-based organisations attended the event.

Members of the SAA Board of Patrons spoke at the launch event. Marco Tullio Giordana, writer and director of The Best of Youth, recipient of the prestigious Un Certain Regard award at the Cannes Film...

SAA interviews

2010-06-04

Watch two members of the SAA Board of Patrons being interviewed at the SAA launch event: Marco Tullio Giordana, writer and director of The Best of Youth, recipient of the prestigious Un Certain Regard award at the Cannes Film Festival and Roger Michell, director of Notting Hill.

Further interviews by Luigi Berlinguer, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs, representatives of the SAA member collecting societies and Cécile Despringre, SAA's Executive Director.

Les sociétés d’auteurs audiovisuelles lancent une nouvelle organisation européenne

2010-05-16

A l’initiative de la SACD et de la SCAM en France et de 7 autres sociétés d’auteurs audiovisuelles en Allemagne, Royaume Uni, Pays-Bas et Suisse, la Société des Auteurs Audiovisuels (SAA) a vu le jour en ce début d’année. Après seulement quelques mois, elle rassemble 24 sociétés de gestion collective représentant plus de 100 000 scénaristes et réalisateurs de 17 pays.

Les objectifs de la SAA sont les suivants :

Défendre et valoriser les droits moraux et patrimoniaux des auteurs d’œuvres audiovisuelles ;
Sécuriser une rémunération juste pour les auteurs audiovisuels pour chaque...

European directors’ and screenwriters’ societies launch a new association in Brussels

2010-05-11

On the eve of the opening of the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival and a few days after the publication of the European Commission’s long-awaited Green Paper on Cultural and Creative Industries, a new organisation defending the rights of European audiovisual authors was launched in Brussels.

At a press conference that took place today in Residence Palace the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) was launched in Brussels. SAA is an association of 24 European Collective Management Societies representing film and television screenwriters and directors - over 100,000...

Videos

2010-05-07

Brochure

2010-05-06

The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) is an association of European collective management societies representing audiovisual authors. It currently represents over 100,000 film and television screenwriters and directors. This number is increasing daily and it is anticipated that SAA will soon...

Board of Patrons

2010-04-22

Fred Breinersdorfer, Dardenne Brothers, Marco Tullio Giordana, Agnès Jaoui, Roger Michell, Radu Mihăileanu, Paolo Sorrentino, Bertrand Tavernier, Jaco Van Dormael