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Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Global film and TV bodies unite against Trump's 100% tariff proposal
Donald Trump's proposal to impose 100% tariffs on films and TV shows produced abroad has sparked significant opposition from global entertainment organizations. Over 100 film and TV bodies worldwide have united to sign an open letter urging governments to safeguard the systems that support independent film and audiovisual creation. The letter, which comes on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival, addresses concerns over the growing dominance of global entertainment conglomerates and the rise of AI in production, alongside Trump's proposed tariffs. While the letter does not directly name Trump, it challenges the broader political and corporate forces threatening the diversity of cultural expression. It highlights the importance of public funding, cultural policy, and regulation in fostering independent production. Among the signatories are major industry bodies such as Italy's Audiovisual Producers Association, Screen Producers Australia, the European Audiovisual Production Association (CEPI), the Canadian Media Producers Association, and the European Film Academy. These organizations have joined forces to defend the right of creators to tell their own stories rooted in their cultures, languages, and identities. They argue that if the tariff plan succeeds, it will be more difficult for diverse voices to be heard, and for local cultures to thrive. Trump's proposal to levy tariffs on foreign films and TV shows, including U.S. productions filmed abroad, has raised fears internationally, especially in Europe. This move follows his previous efforts to challenge the European Union's Audiovisual Media Services Directive, local content quotas, and requirements for streaming platforms to invest in local markets. The letter also calls on governments to uphold the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and to oppose any legal, political, or economic initiatives that threaten artistic freedoms. In response to the increasing pressure, the UK entertainment union Equity has expressed readiness for industrial action should talks with producers and global streamers fail.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump's Film & TV Tariff Plan Leads Global Entertainment Bodies To Issue Protection Appeal: 'We Unite To Defend The Right To Tell Our Own Stories'
Donald Trump's plan to issue 100% tariffs on films and TV shows filmed and made abroad has received more pushback. A group of more than 100 film and TV bodies from around the world have united to sign an open letter appealing to governments to 'safeguard the systems that support independent film and audiovisual creation.' More from Deadline UK Actors Union Is "Industrial Action Ready" If Pact & Streamer Negotiations Collapse, Says Re-elected Gen Sec Paul Fleming John Oliver Mocks Trump's Comments About Dolls: "Every Single Way This Man Refers To Girls Makes My Skin Want To Turn Inside Out" 'Shogun' Showrunner Celebrates BAFTA Win By Declaring: Good TV Is "Borderless" Amid Trump Tariff Threat The letter clearly targets Trump, but also challenges 'algorithm-driven platforms, and the growing dominance of global entertainment conglomerates,' along the rise of AI in production. The letter appears to have been timed to be issued on the cusp of the Cannes Film Festival and with the industry still reeling from the tariff proposals. Those signing include Italy's Audiovisual Producers Association, Screen Producers Australia, the European Audiovisual Production Association (CEPI), the Canadian Media Producers Association, the European Producers Club, the European Film Academy, France's Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques, Spain's Productores Asociados de Televisión de España, Screen Producers Ireland, several writing and directing guilds and other industry bodies. Trump shocked the entertainment world earlier this month when he announced plans to put a 100% tariff on movies imported from abroad – including U.S. films that shoot abroad. It later emerged TV production was included in the plan, which came after his 'special ambassador' to Hollywood, Jon Voight, had unveiled a report seeking to save the entertainment industry. The plan has gone down as well as one might imagine internationally, compounding fears that Trump will further challenge the European Union's Audiovisual Media Services Directive, local content quotas and requirements that streamers invest portions of their revenues in local markets such as Canada. An open letter titled 'A Global Declaration for Artistic Freedom, Cultural Diversity and Cultural Sovereignty' has now been issued. This letter begins by noting how public funding, cultural policy and regulation have fostered independent production, saying: 'We, creators, professionals, companies and organizations from the film and audiovisual sector, along with culturally-engaged citizens, unite to defend out right to tell our own stories – stories rooted in our cultures, languages and identities – and ensure that people everywhere can continue to access and enjoy them.' While it does not directly name Trump, who recently killed funding for PBS and NPR through an executive order, it goes on to state: 'Today, the support for independent film and audiovisual storytelling is under growing threat. 'We are witnessing increasingly aggressive attempts by powerful political and corporate actors to dismantle the regulatory protections that ensure the diversity and accessibility of cultural expression.' The letter states these actions are taking place alongside wider attacks on pluralism and freedom of expression,' and adds that, 'if they succeed, it will become increasingly difficult for diverse voices to be heard, for the whole ecosystem to create, produce, distribute, promote and exhibit films and audiovisual works successfully, and for local cultures to thrive.' The signatories are demanding their artistic freedoms are upheld and 'firmly' opposing 'any political, legal or economic initiative that seeks to undermine national or international rules' supporting that framework. They also call on their governments to reinforce the UNESCO Convention of the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. 'We call on all governments to stand firm and safeguard the systems that support independent film and audiovisual creation so that culture, creativity and democratic access to diverse stories for the screen can continue to flourish.' Over the weekend, UK entertainment union Equity said it was 'industrial-action ready' if talks with producers body Pact and the global streamers collapse. Equity did not sign today's open letter. Best of Deadline All The Songs In Netflix's 'Forever': From Tyler The Creator To SZA 'Poker Face' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Arrive On Peacock? Everything We Know About Celine Song's 'Materialists' So Far
