EFAD on the Eve of its 10th Anniversary: Renewed Commitment to Cooperation and Solidarity
On December 11, EFAD members convened in Brussels for an engaging plenary session that gathered around 40 delegates from 25 member organizations.
The session provided a dynamic platform for brainstorming and discussions on the critical strategic issues facing film agencies and the broader audiovisual sector.
The agenda featured two breakout sessions that delved into key topics:
- “EFAD Looking Forward: Vision for 2030” – A session that explored future challenges and strategic directions for EFAD.
- “Tackling Current Issues” – This session addressed a wide array of themes, including:
- Practical applications of AI for film agencies;
- The importance of film education;
- Safeguarding film funding as a protector of freedoms against political interference;
- Financial obligations of VoD platforms;
- Retention of intellectual property and the role of independent producers.
Kjersti Mo, EFAD Vice President, emphasized the value of such collaborative exchanges, stating: “This interactive and participative meeting demonstrated once again that EFAD offers a unique platform for exchanging best practices on film funding and addressing key policy challenges. Our power is released when we unite and learn from each other’s initiatives and approaches. This is crucial for inspiring and building common solutions for the future.”
EFAD President Chris Marcich further reinforced the association’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity at the European level. He underscored EFAD’s pivotal role in advocating for policies that protect and promote European and local audiovisual creation against pressures from non-European interests. “EFAD remains steadfast in supporting its members and their governments in resisting efforts to undermine existing provisions that uphold cultural diversity and the European audiovisual ecosystem.”
In this context, EFAD is actively intervening to support the French-speaking government in the appeal launched by Netflix and backed by Disney, against its decree on financial obligations.
The meeting also marked the launch of EFAD’s new website and visual identity, designed by Statik. While preserving a connection to its established branding, the redesigned website offers an enhanced user experience and spotlights the outstanding films supported by EFAD members. It also provides a wealth of valuable resources for both members and visitors.
As the association approaches its 10th anniversary, formally established under Belgian law in December 2014, EFAD looks forward to celebrating this significant milestone. Plans are already underway for a special anniversary event, set to take place during the Cannes Film Festival in 2025.