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. 

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 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.

Screenwriters and directors from around the world share their experiences and call for action on royalties

Be bold, look at the success stories of statutory rights to remuneration to ensure fair remuneration to audiovisual authors, was the message of three legal experts at SAA’s seminar to national legislators ahead of today’s deadline to implement the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.

We, European authors, producers and distributors, welcome the adoption of the legal basis of the Europe Creative programme by the European Parliament, and the support provided to European creation. We are looking forward to the start of the calls for the Media Programme as soon as possible. However, the Work Programme for 2021 prepared by the European Commission includes concerns for the documentary sector which must be changed urgently.

On 17 March 2021, European collective management organisations and their members came together to discuss how to secure fair remuneration to performers and audiovisual authors.

"Collective management – A safety net for authors and performers" is the title of the SAA and AEPO-ARTIS upcoming event on 17 March. It also well describes the results of the surveys the SAA conducted among its members, demonstrating the collective management organisations’ continued efforts and mobilisation of resources to support audiovisual authors through the pandemic.

On 25 November, the SAA organised the event “The new Copyright legislation: Making the most for next generation authors” with the participation of filmmakers, policymakers and experts to discuss the authors’ right to remuneration in the new EU legislation.

Ahead of the European Council meeting on 17 and 18 July, 45 leading European authors and artists are calling the heads of State and government to agree on appropriate funding for the recovery and thriving of the cultural sector. The SAA stands behind this call.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, European collective management organisations (CMOs) were quick to mobilise speedy distribution of royalties and financial support to screenwriters and directors suffering due to the crisis. A much-needed help for many authors who do not fit the categories to benefit from governments’ emergency support.