European Commission: Conclusions of Cinema and Audiovisual Seminar

IRIS 2002-6:1/12

Tarlach McGonagle

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

A seminar on certain aspects of the monitoring of the Cinema Communication took place in Seville in May under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. The Cinema Communication, or more accurately, the Communication on certain legal aspects relating to cinematographic and other audiovisual works, was adopted by the European Commission in September 2001 (see IRIS 2001-9: 6). The specific aspects of the monitoring task under scrutiny at the Seville Seminar were: heritage preservation; digital cinema; cinematographic education and the rating of films.

Participants in the Seminar reaffirmed the importance of concerted national and European initiatives aiming to preserve, restore and valorise film and audiovisual archives. They also reiterated the importance of creating national registers and repositories for films and audiovisual works. It was observed that digital technologies can play a crucial role in rendering archive material suitable for preservation, as well as contributing to the improved distribution of audiovisual works, but that the authorities responsible for the espousal of such technological innovations should be mindful of their accessibility to the public.

The participants also underscored the advantages that the adoption of common rating systems for audiovisual and cinematographic works by EU Member States would have for Europe-wide film distribution. Analogous rating systems would have to apply to the cinema, DVDs and television, and would necessarily have to show due deference to cultural diversity in the Member States. Also in connection with the distribution of audiovisual and cinematographic works, attention was directed towards the MEDIA Plus Programme (see IRIS 2002-6: 6) and towards the benefits of cinematographic education.