“Strengthening cultural exception in the Europe of tomorrow” Cannes, Monday 20 May 2013, from 10am to 1pm

Introduced by the French Minister for Culture and Communication, Aurélie Filippetti, and European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, the conference will spend the morning examining the impact on the European audiovisual and cinema sector of the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States of America.

 

An important panel of international personalities, including Chris Dodd, CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America and a wide representation of well-known film-makers, who have signed a petition calling for the cinema and audiovisual sectors to be excluded from the free trade negotiations, will be in attendance. 

As the conference is open to professionals accredited by the Festival de Cannes, an opportunity for exchanges between the panel and the audience will be provided during the conference.

 

The conference will enable us to recall and emphasize the negative consequences that would result from any challenge to the concept of cultural exception in Europe. The benefits of reinforcing and extending the mechanisms that encourage cultural diversity will also be evoked, in particular in connection with new technologies and the development of new digital networks. 

 

The following personalities in particular will participate in the debate:Nicole Bricq,FrenchMinister of Foreign Trade (subject to availability, by videoconference); Chris Dodd, CEO Motion Picture Association of America - MPAA;  Aurélie Filippetti, French Minister for Culture and Communication; Eric Garandeau, President of the CNC; Costa Gavras, Director; Alvaro Longoria, Producer; Roberto Olla, Managing Director of Eurimages; Doris Pack,Chair of the EU Committee on Culture and Education; Jobst Plog, CEO of Eurimages and Vice-President of ARTE; Pascal Rogard, President of the coalition française pour la diversité culturelle; Jaime Rosales, Director; Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner; Henri Weber, Member of the EU INTA Committee.

 

At 12.30pm, the Minister for Culture and Communication, Aurélie Filippetti, will hold a press briefing on the conclusions of the conference.

The conference will take place in the Salon des Ambassadeurs - 4^th floor of the Palais des Festivals (access on presentation of accreditation)

Mathilde Dessane

CNC