12/05/2026
Europe needs cinema. Cinema needs Europe.
Thousands of cinema professionals, including prominent directors, authors, actors and industry leaders from across Europe and beyond have come together around this simple but urgent message: Europe needs cinema.
Cinema needs Europe.
They have signed an Open Letter calling on the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States to preserve and reinforce the MEDIA programme as a major instrument of support for European independent cinema.
For more than 35 years, MEDIA has helped European stories travel across borders, supporting independent production, theatrical distribution, festivals, training, and a thriving audiovisual ecosystem across the continent.
Today, that success story is under threat. As part of negotiations on the EU budget for 2028-2034, the European Commission proposes to integrate MEDIA into the new AgoraEU programme. While the overall budget may increase, the current proposal offers no guaranteed, dedicated funding for the film and audiovisual sector. The text remains vague with no assurance that the key actions that made MEDIA successful will continue.
The open letter celebrates MEDIA’s role in promoting cultural diversity, artistic freedom, jobs, innovation, and European soft power, and calls for the programme’s future to be secured and its resources to be reinforced.
The petition is still open. Add your name here:
https://form.jotform.com/261123392857056
At Cannes this year, the slogan « Europe needs cinema » will appear on badges worn by attendees, a small but visible sign of solidarity for European cinema.
This letter was initiated by a coalition of European associations, including the , Europa International, , , , ATC (Audiovisual Training Coalition), CEPI and Film and Audiovisual Markets in Europe (F.A.M.E.).
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