The Digital Single Market Strategy adopted by the Commission on 6 May was very much discussed during the first week-end of the Cannes Film Festival, one of the biggest gatherings of cinema professionals in the world.

Bogdan Wenta MEP’s draft report discussed in the European Parliament Culture committee.

Today is the big one. SAA and anyone else in the audiovisual sector is now under no doubt of which hearing they need to follow. Günther Oettinger.

Culture portfolio is losing departments as well as prestige and importance.

The popular winner in the press after the European Parliament elections is ‘others’, a mix of national eurosceptic, extreme right and anti-establishment parties that together represent the 3rd highest grouping (estimates put EPP at 213 seats, S&D at 189 seats and other at 105 seats).

And by out, we mean out there, being watched.

Ahead of the 7-8 February Special Summit on the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the European Platform on the potential of Cultural and Creative Industries (‘The Platform’) - a group of more than 40 organisations representing a wide range of cultural and creative sectors – calls on EU Member States to adopt a strong budget for ‘Creative Europe’, the 2014-2020 programme for the cultural and creative sectors.

SAA patron Robert Alberdingk Thijm mixes with big business to make sure authors’ rights are respected.

I traditionally spend a few days in Cannes for the International Film Festival in May to (of course) see films and discover the brilliant selection concocted by Thierry Fremaux, the most trusted cinema lover in the world, but above all to participate in events and meet people at this big international fair.

Organised by the SACD/Scam Belgium, and taking place at 2pm on 4th June at the Royal Library in Brussels, the second edition of the Rencontres de Bruxelles will look at how creators are working with the new connectivity at their fingertips. For more information (in French) and registration details click below.

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.