How can best the EU support the European film heritage

institutions?

Mari Sol Pérez GuevaraUnit Audiovisual and Media Policies

European Commissionhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/avpolicy/

Berlinale 2009

Legal Instruments

Film Heritage Recommendation (11/2005)Member States are recommended to inform the Commission

every two years of action taken in response to the Recommendation.

1st implementation report (8/2008)

http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/docs/reg/cinema/report/swp_en.pdf

Berlinale 2009

Legal basis for Community action: EC Treaty

Article 151 of the EC Treaty: cultural policy

151.2: Action by the Community shall be aimed at encouraging cooperation between Member

States and, if necessary, supporting and

supplementing their action in the following areas:….

- conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance

151.4: The Community shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under other provisions of

this Treaty, in particular in order to respect and to promote the diversity of its cultures.

Berlinale 2009

Content:

1. Review of relevant EU initiatives2. Summary of reports from 26 Member

States. Identification of problems and best practices

3. Conclusions

Film Heritage Recommendation 1st Implementation Report

Berlinale 2009

1. Review of relevant EU initiatives

- EU Cinema Expert Group meetings- Standardisation mandate to CEN on

interoperability of film databases- Framework contract on voluntary deposit- Copy-right legislation- MEDIA Pilot projects (MIDAS, European Film

Treasures, Europe’s Finest)- eContentplus Programme « European Film

Gateway »- Research projects: ED-Cine, PrestoPRIME- Europeana- Orphan works

Berlinale 2009

2. Recommendation on Film Heritage / Summary of reports

Deposit of cinematographic works by Member States (type of deposit scheme, based on reported information

from 24 Member States)

10

11

3

Legal deposit for all works

Compulsory deposit of fundedworks

Voluntary deposit

Berlinale 2009

3. Recommendation on Film Heritage / Conclusions

9 points to consider by Film Heritage institutions:

1. Long-term strategies and annual plans2. Checking compliance with deposit obligations3. Voluntary deposit as a complement4. Interoperability of film databases / making

them accesible via the Internet5. Restoration: partnerships with the commercial

sector and other film archives

Berlinale 2009

3. Recommendation on Film Heritage / Conclusions

9 points to consider by Film Heritage institutions:

6. Agreements with right-holders to promote cultural access to film heritage

7. Creation of specialised training at University level

8. Give priority to educational programmes and activities

9. Prepare for the challenges of the digitigal era

Berlinale 2009

3. Recommendation on Film Heritage / Conclusions

Challenges of the digital era• Collection / acquisition of digital material

(distributed in cinemas or via new channels);• Storage / conservation of digital material,

which could require regular migration to new formats or supports;

• Applying digital technologies for restoration;• Giving access via internet to the collections,

and related copyright issues;• Integration in www.europeana.eu

Berlinale 2009

QUESTIONS TO FILM ARCHIVES

Feedback on the first implementation

report: What was useful? What can be improved?

Second implementation report: Member States to report by November 2009. The

Commission is preparing a questionnaire to help Member States to report. How should it be drafted?

How to make of the second implementation report a useful tool for film archives? Format? Content?

Berlinale 2009

KEY ISSUES FOR 2009

1. Follow-up of the Commission Green Paper on Copy-right in the Knowledge economy

2. Participation in European research projects and in MEDIA pilot projects

3. Implementing the European standards on interoperability of film databases

4. Signature of the ACE/FIAFP model contract on voluntary deposit

5. Cinema Expert Group / Subgroup film heritage on 18 June 2009

6. Timely report on the implementation of the Recommendation (11/2009)

7. Participation in the Commission’s study on public domain (www.rightscom.com)

CONTACT DETAILS

Unit Audiovisual and Media PoliciesDirectorate-General Information

Society and Media European Commission

http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/reg/cinema/index_en.htm