Chillin'Competition

A few weeks ago some of my statements on the impact of the Commission’s Pay TV case featured in The Hollywood Reporter (see here).

In essence, I explained that in spite of appearances, this case is not about TV licensing but about the financing of film productions, and that if the case were to go forward, the fragile financing structure of European filmmaking would collapse.

Back in January we tried to make the same point to the Commission. At the oral hearing I shared my floor time with Rebecca O’Brien, producer of Ken Loach films, who explained (this has all been made public elsewhere) how delicate the financing ecosystem of independent filmmaking  is, and how the Commission’s case could put the EU industry at risk. She explained that without the current legal framework governing territorial exclusivity of films, Ken Loach’s films would simply not exist.

Well, yesterday Ken Loach’s new film won the Palme D’Or at Cannes. That’s a useful reminder of the importance of what we are talking about.

And Chillin’Competition was there to celebrate. This is one of the perks of our job. To see Pablo and myself marching on the red carpet (admittedly, I may have used too much facial make up….) 🙂