Action: Dangerous Guidelines for Documentaries
in the EU… I write ”dangerous” instead of ”stupid” and continue by saying ”here we go again” with the EU. One thing is that it has been decided to put the well established brand MEDIA into a new scheme under the nonsense name ”Creative Europe” (why change something (MEDIA) that is a huge success?), another thing is that the guidelines for documentaries are announced to be changed. For the worse and again totally away from understanding the reality of the creative documentary like it has happened before, when changes in the MEDIA programme was made. BUT, it has to be said, lobbying has previously been succesful, so action helps and is needed now!
A quote from the EDN website of this morning: During said meeting with representatives of the Media Unit and the EACEA agency with EDN Director Paul Pauwels, it has been confirmed that the following two elements are part of the proposed guidelines;
1) The maximum support for a documentary project applying for Single Project Development Support will from 2014 onward be a lump sum of €25.000 as opposed to the current level of minimum 10.000 € and maximum €60.000.
2) A project receiving Single Project Development Support cannot enter into principal shooting until one year after the funding application date.
Both suggestions for changes are of course not acceptable. On that background “EDN is encouraging all members and colleagues to make themselves heard about the expected developments within Creative Europe. Please do contact your national representative before October 11, 2013.” Which is the day where the national representatives meet.
Read more about it on the EDN website and talk to the national representative!
