Signing of a cross-border co-development agreement and launch of a co-development fund in the Greater Region
As part of the 37th Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival, a cross-border agreement was signed concerning the creation of a film development fund by partners from the 4 countries of the Greater Region, the content and objectives of which were detailed at a press conference.
Dr. Gerd Bauer, representative of the Saarland Medien and instigator of the agreement, was delighted with the success of this cooperation: "Film professionals can now look forward to benefiting from a new means of developing their projects. Thanks to this Fund, money can once again be injected into the Greater Region.. The Fund should have an annual endowment of €55,000 and is aimed at authors and producers whose projects have a link with the Greater Region.
The FFA is also a partner in this co-development agreement, supporting the Greater Region. " As a native of the Saar region, I know full well that for people from this region, it has been normal for decades to lead a life beyond borders. And what applies to everyday life can also be applied to the world of culture. said Peter Dinges, representative of the FFA (the German film regulatory body). "It's not about putting ourselves on the same level as Berlin and Paris, but this agreement signed today should enable us to take the first step towards developing more joint projects in the Greater SaarLorLux Region! Even if the endowment of this Fund seems derisory compared with the high costs involved in producing a film, it is no less realistic that €55,000 will enable us to support two or three screenplays a year, written by young authors".
Guy Daleiden, Director of the Film Fund Luxembourg, has extensive experience of international co-productions: "We have supported a large number of international co-productions in recent years. This agreement will ultimately improve the financial conditions for development in the Greater Region and strengthen our links with our neighbours in Germany, Belgium and Lorraine, in addition to the existing inter-regional Location Guide and Production Guide projects. The aim of this agreement is to boost film production by supporting the development of projects from the Greater Region.
"The participation of Belgium's German-speaking community in this partnership - however small - will give the audiovisual sector a high profile and a high profile," said Belgian minister Isabelle Weykmans. "The arts and culture bind the partners in this agreement. We have here a high potential in terms of cultural diversity and influences that offer an ideal environment for the development of exciting stories that should translate into future scenarios".
Alongside the CNC (Centre national du cinéma de l'image animée), the brand new Région Alsace Champagne-Ardenne Lorraine (ACAL) represented the French partner. We can only welcome this new partner, which is still in the early stages of its development. The representative of the ACAL Region, Patrick Thil, is particularly confident and is looking forward to the fruits of this agreement for the audiovisual sector in Lorraine and this cross-border collaboration. The CNC, for its part, supports the efforts of the ACAL and welcomes the conclusion of the agreement as a sign of further international cooperation in the film sector.
The partners in the co-development agreement are :
Saarland Medien GmbH
Deutsche Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)
Alsace Champagne-Ardenne Lorraine (ACAL) region
Centre national du cinéma de l'image animée (CNC)
Film Fund Luxembourg
Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgien
Photo from L to R: Guy Daleiden (Film Fund Luxembourg), Peter Dinges (Filmförderungsanstalt Deutschland), Dr. Gerd Bauer (Saarland Medien GmbH), Isabelle Weykmans (DG Belgien),
Patrick Thil (Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine Region)
Bild: Saarland Medien GmbH/Jennifer Weyland
