Latest news with #EuropeanProducersClub
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Coalition of over 100 film and TV groups issue open letter in wake of Trump's film imports tariffs plan
A coalition of more than 100 film and television organisations has urged global governments and European Union institutions to protect the independent screen industry, warning of growing threats to cultural diversity and artistic freedom amid new global trade tensions. The open letter — launched on Monday (12.05.25), the day before the Cannes Film Festival opened — is titled 'Our Stories, Our Voices: A Global Declaration for Artistic Freedom, Cultural Diversity and Cultural Sovereignty'. It was issued in response to escalating pressure on national and international policies designed to support independent film production, particularly following 78-year-old U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of plans to impose tariffs on film imports. The signatories span five continents and include the European Producers Club, which represents leading independent film and TV drama producers across continental Europe, Irish Equity, the Independent Directors Association of South Africa, and the Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada. '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 declaration said. It added: 'This includes direct challenges to essential protections such as the Audiovisual Media Services Directive in the European Union, proposed local content obligations in Australia, screen quotas in Asia, and requirements that streaming services contribute to domestic production in Canada, among others.' In Europe, Trump's proposed trade policy has prompted renewed lobbying by U.S. film studios against the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS), which requires international streaming platforms to reinvest a portion of their revenue into local content. The Motion Picture Association — representing Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Amazon Prime Video/MGM, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros. — sent a memorandum to the United States Trade Representative in March, before the announcement of the new tariffs, calling the investment requirements in countries such as France, Germany and Italy 'disproportionate'. Global industry groups have stressed they 'firmly oppose any political, legal, or economic initiative that seeks to undermine national or international rules designed to uphold artistic freedom and cultural diversity in the film and audiovisual sector'. Their latest appeal urges world leaders 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'.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Film Tariffs Plan Prompts Appeal From Global Industry Organizations Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
A group of more than 100 film and TV organisations from around the world launched an appeal to European Union institutions and global governments Monday – on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival kickoff – calling on them to support the indie industry ecosystem following U.S. President Donald Trump's announced plan to impose tariffs on film imports. Signatories include the The European Producers Club, which represents top independent film and TV drama producers across continental Europe, Irish Equity, South Africa's Independent Directors Association, and Canada's Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada. More from Variety Erige Sehiri's 'Promised Sky' Debuts Trailer Ahead of Premiere in Cannes as Luxbox Launches Sales (EXCLUSIVE) Philippines' QCinema Industry Set for Cannes Launch, Bolsters Southeast Asian Film Hub Ambitions Nour Films Takes French Rights to Lav Diaz's 'Magellan' Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) The appeal, titled 'Our Stories, our Voices: A Global Declaration for Artistic Freedom, Cultural Diversity and Cultural Sovereignty' asks 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,' it said. 'We are witnessing increasingly aggressive attempts by powerful political and corporate actorsto dismantle the regulatory protections that ensure the diversity and accessibility of culturalexpression,' the appeal noted. 'This includes direct challenges to essential protections such as the Audiovisual MediaServices Directive in the European Union, proposed local content obligations in Australia,screen quotas in Asia, and requirements that streaming services contribute to domesticproduction in Canada, among others,' it added. In Europe Trump's aggressive new trade policy is prompting U.S. studios to mount a new offensive against the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS) which forces foreign streaming services to invest a portion of their revenues into local productions. The Motion Picture Association which, among other Hollywood companies, represents the interests of Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Amazon Prime/MGM, Sony Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros. in March – prior to Trump's tariffs on film announcement – sent a memorandum to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) underlining 'disproportionate investment obligations' in European countries including France, Germany, and Italy. Signatories in their appeal underlined that they 'firmly oppose any political, legal, or economic initiative that seeks to undermine national or international rules designed to uphold artistic freedom andcultural diversity in the film and audiovisual sector.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$66M Together Fund Launches With Ambition To Strengthen European Indie Production Companies
A new Paris-based multimillion euro equity fund, dedicated to helping European independent production companies scale-up, has launched. Bannered the Together Fund, the fund has an initial capitalization of €58M ($66M), with ambitions to grow to €100M ($113M), and is described as the first equity fund focused purely on Europe's independent film and TV production companies. More from Deadline European Producers Club Appoints Julie-Jeanne Régnault As Managing Director Alexandra Lebret Steps Down As Head Of European Producers Club After 23-Yr Tenure European Producers Club Calls On Film Community To Unite Against "Disgraceful" Russian Jail Sentence For Alexander Rodnyansky Today's official kick-off follows the signing of an accord by representatives of the European Union's European Investment Fund (EIF) in Paris on Friday committing €25M ($28.5M) to the fund. Details of the other investors are due to be announced in May. EIF is investing in the Together Fund under its MediaInvest instrument which was created in 2022 as part of the European Union's post-pandemic €400M Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. 'It's not only the 25 million, it's the stamp of the EIF,' said Vincent van Steensel, EIF's Head of Portfolio Guarantees, adding its involvement will secure and trigger further investment. 'We are the biggest equity investor in Europe. We have a 30% market share, and we know that certain investors do not invest if EIF is not on board.' The new fund has been designed to help independent production companies scale and strengthen their market presence while maintaining their independence, in the face of the growing dominance of integrated audiovisual groups. Together aims to change this dynamic by acting as a capital growth fund, supporting companies that have already demonstrated their ability to deliver high-quality content. Focusing primarily on companies producing scripted content, the average investment is expected to be around €4M ($4.5M), meaning at least 25 companies should be able to tap into the fund. Running under the auspices of private equity firm Axio Capital, the fund is the brainchild of co-directors Alexandra Lebret and Antoine Bodet. Lebret was managing director of the European Producers Club (EPC) for 23 years, representing the interests of around 185 prominent producers from across Europe, before stepping down earlier this year. Her time at the EPC means she has an extensive network in the European production scene and knowledge of its inner and outer workings. Bodet is a partner at Axio Capital. He has advised and invested in a number of French film and TV companies across his career including MakingProd, Federation Entertainment and Echo Studio, and is currently a board member at Anton. Prior to joining Axio Capital, he was executive director at Natixis investment bank-backed private equity management firm Alliance Entreprendre, where his media and entertainment sector investments included Federation and Paris-based international sales company Playtime. The duo is already examining some 40 applications and expect to unveil Together Fund's first investments as early as May. Lebret said investment decisions would be based on a company's overall vision and business plan for the future, rather than individual projects or acquisitions. 'The particularity of the fund is that it's companies on a minority basis,' said Lebret. 'We are the independent solution for independent producers for independent growth. That's our baseline,' she said. Bodet said cash the fund injected into companies by taking a minority stake could be used for a variety of things from hiring new staff, to developing IPs, and related costs such as buying book rights or paying writers to develop new ideas. Both co-directors emphasized the fact that while the fund is based in Paris, its focus will be pan-European, with Lebret noting her strong ties with producers in territories such as Eastern Europe and the Baltics as well as France. Lebret said the fund had been sparked by the fact that while the independent European production sector is stabilizing in the wake of the disruption caused by the pandemic and the end of the peak TV era, it remained highly fragmented, at a time when the pool of content buyers was becoming increasingly concentrated. Another specificity of the fund is that unlike traditional equity funds, Together will offers hands-on strategic support from a dedicated team, led by Lebret and Bodet, to provide market insights and financial guidance. The long-term mission is to create a more structured and resilient independent production sector in Europe, capable of competing on a global scale. The fund has a 10-year lifespan, with a five-year investment period followed by a five-year exit strategy. 'The idea is to try to develop the ecosystem because as you know… compared to other markets like the U.S., we are lagging behind a lot,' said EIF's van Steensel. 'The importance of keeping some sort of sovereignty in Europe, cultural sovereignty is more and more important,' he continued. 'If you put this in the context of today with what is happening, sovereignty is not only a matter of defense, it's also a cultural matter.' Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media 'Hacks' Season 4 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alexandra Lebret Steps Down As Head Of European Producers Club After 23-Yr Tenure
The European Producers Club (EPC) has announced the departure of longtime Managing Director Alexandra Lebret, with the body praising her 23-year stint at the helm advocating for the rights of independent producers across Europe. Founded in 1983 within the framework of the GATS negotiation, the body has gone from strength to strength under Lebret's leadership, and currently represents 185 prominent producers across the continent. 'Alexandra's profound impact on the European audiovisual landscape cannot be overstated,' says EPC President Dariusz Jablonski. More from Deadline European Producers Club Calls On Film Community To Unite Against "Disgraceful" Russian Jail Sentence For Alexander Rodnyansky Peak TV Placed In Perspective At Series Mania As Research Shows It Would Take 350 Years To Watch Everything On Streaming BBC Pushing On With Tonight's Wynne Evans Series Despite 'Strictly Come Dancing' Contestant's Inappropriate Remark 'Her strategic vision and tireless advocacy have not only strengthened independent producers' position but fundamentally reshaped how our industry approaches critical challenges. Through initiatives like the Best practices for Independent producers, Gender Charter and Green Charter, she has pushed our industry toward greater sustainability and inclusivity.' Since taking up the role of EPC head in 2002, Lebret is credited with championing intellectual property rights for producers, fostered cross-border collaboration, and established the EPC as a clear voice in the European Commission. The Gender Charter set industry-wide standards for equality and representation, while the Green Charter has positioned the EPC at the forefront of sustainable production practices. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lebret also coordinated vital support for Ukrainian audiovisual professionals, mobilizing resources and creating networking opportunities during unprecedented challenges. 'Alexandra leaves an extraordinary legacy of innovation and advocacy,' Jablonski added. 'Her work on the Gender Charter has created tangible pathways for women in our industry, while the Green Charter has established a framework for environmental responsibility that will influence productions for years to come. These initiatives reflect her commitment to meaningful, lasting change.' In recognition of her contributions, Lebret was decorated as Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2013. Beyond her leadership at the EPC, she has also left her mark as a producer, founding Mare Nostrum Productions and Halley Production and garnering international acclaim for her work. 'These 23 years have been an incredible journey. I am deeply grateful to have worked with such talented producers and colleagues, united by a shared passion for European storytelling,' said Lebret. 'Together, we have achieved so much to strengthen the independent production sector, and I am proud of the legacy we've built. While it is bittersweet to leave, I am excited for the opportunities ahead and will always cherish the relationships and memories forged during my time at the EPC.' Lebret will be announcing her next move at the Berlin Film Festival in February, while the EPC Board will soon announce its succession plan in the coming weeks. Best of Deadline 'Severance' Cast Through Seasons 1 And 2: Innies, Outies, Severed and Unsevered 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far
