Young European filmmakers and Youtubers shared their experiences of working with online media and streaming platforms, in conversation with EU policymakers and experts about authors’ rights and remuneration. 

The Society of Audiovisual Authors and its collective management organisation members stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and their creative community following the invasion of the country, and with all forms of opposition to the war. 

MUSICAUTOR, FILMAUTOR and ARTISTAUTOR joined as 'Alliance for the Development of Creative Forces' to support the responsible institutions and contributing to Bulgaria’s economic development while also ensuring transparency, fairness and better conditions for creators.

Film/AV sector regrets that the European Parliament missed the opportunity to make the Internet a safer space for everyone.

With the upcoming plenary vote, the European Parliament can still turn the Digital Service Act into an opportunity for the EU to play a global role in making the internet a safer space for everyone.

On 1 January, the French Presidency of the Council of the EU began. Put aside the pandemic and the upcoming French elections, the expectation on the Presidency from creators and their representative organisations is still high as France was the very first country - decades before the rest of the world - to recognize authors’ sovereignty over their creative works.

"At a time when France has just begun its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, we, European screenwriters and directors, wish to share with you our expectations and hopes for the advancement of authors' rights, the promotion of the right to proportional remuneration for creators and its contribution to the dynamism of creation."

Recommendations to the EU and Member States

The SAA highlights the specific conditions and difficulties that young and aspiring European directors and screenwriters face in the 21st century of moving images and puts forward 5 ways to support next generation audiovisual authors.

On 19 October, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU prepared by MEP Monica SEMEDO for the Culture committee. The SAA welcomes this important resolution that calls for minimum social standards for artists and cultural workers and shows that the EU can do more to guarantee fair and proportionate remuneration for authors.

Voices of Culture call on the EU to adopt a holistic approach to determining the social and economic status of artists and cultural workers. The SAA has been part of developing its recommendations addressing fair pay, flattening income variations, collective bargaining, intellectual property rights and grants.

The SAA have co-signed a letter by more than 110 pan-European networks, coordinated by Culture Action Europe. Today it has been sent to the Member States and the European Commission to secure a future for culture and cultural life in Europe.