Titel Kino 2/2001(2 Alternativ) - German Films
Titel Kino 2/2001(2 Alternativ) - German Films
Titel Kino 2/2001(2 Alternativ) - German Films
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Prof. Dr. Julian Nida-Rümelin (photo © Dörflinger)<br />
for Cultural Affairs and the Media<br />
most European Union culture ministers, to push the case with<br />
the Commission as well as within the European Parliament for<br />
the need for European film to receive future public funding,<br />
both as a national cultural treasure and a medium promoting a<br />
European identity. In so doing, we are working on a European<br />
alternative to mainstream cinema from Hollywood. I am<br />
personally very keen to see the European Commission take<br />
sufficient note of this within the framework of its regulations<br />
governing competition.<br />
To promote European cinema it is not just enough to provide the<br />
film industry in the member countries of the European Union<br />
with sufficient financial foundations. We must, at the same time,<br />
make all efforts to increase mutual audience interest in films<br />
from neighboring countries and, in so doing, give them more<br />
opportunity in our cinemas. Along with this I also see the public<br />
broadcasters airing European films in<br />
prime time. Perhaps the European<br />
Union’s television guidelines should also<br />
contain the corresponding obligation<br />
for public broadcasters to transmit<br />
European films in the original language<br />
with subtitles.<br />
In this context I also consider important<br />
the maintenance and continued<br />
expansion of bilateral and multilateral<br />
relations within the film industry. And not<br />
just with our European neighbors but<br />
world-wide. International co-productions<br />
in particular should be made easier and<br />
access to the relevant markets also<br />
improved. This is why I am annoyed by<br />
the recently introduced financial<br />
regulations which unfortunately hinder<br />
international co-productions rather than<br />
promote them. I am very grateful to the<br />
<strong>German</strong> Federal Film Board (FFA) for<br />
organizing a symposium, together with<br />
the Erich-Pommer Institute, on the effects<br />
of the new financial regulations shortly<br />
after they came into effect. After the<br />
results have been evaluated I will, if<br />
necessary, put forward proposals to the<br />
Finance Minister for a more balanced<br />
implementation.<br />
Another important matter is the reform<br />
of <strong>German</strong> copyright law. I am especially<br />
personally concerned with finding a fair<br />
compromise which suitably rewards the<br />
creative contribution and also pays fair<br />
due to the interests of the film industry.<br />
<strong>German</strong>y shall, in the future, also<br />
become a more interesting location for<br />
investment in film production.<br />
A further main plank of my policy is to<br />
improve foreign representation of<br />
<strong>German</strong> films and, in so doing, their<br />
export opportunities. To bring this about<br />
I am keen to expand, on the one hand,<br />
the role played by the Export-Union and<br />
its financial basis, and on the other, the possibilities of strengthening<br />
cooperation between the film and television industries in<br />
making joint sales efforts, particularly at foreign markets.<br />
The Goethe Institute could also play an important role in this<br />
and I would very much like to improve its possibilities for<br />
organizing <strong>German</strong> film weeks as well as its scope for special<br />
activities to represent film abroad.<br />
Prof. Dr. Julian Nida-Rümelin<br />
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