A Bath academic has made a case to the European Parliament on the importance of protecting European cinema.
Wendy Everett, from the University of Bath’s Department of European Studies, spoke of the central role of home-grown cinema in European identity at a conference at the European Parliament last week, organised by the Federation of European Film Directors.
The organisation wants to protect the creative rights of film directors, including British directors such as Ken Loach, an honorary graduate of the University, in the face of digital and technological developments such as 3D and new opportunities for online distribution.
Leading directors and key figures in European cinema spoke about finance and copyright issues and the need for new legislation to ensure that directors continue to receive revenue for their work, as new ways of making and showing films are developed.
The conference spoke directly to Members of the European Parliament and European Commission, including Vice-President of the European Parliament, Isabelle Durant.
Ms Everett, the only non-industry speaker, said: “European film is at the very heart of European identity.
“No matter what their genre, all European films explore and, in turn, contribute to European identity in a complex symbiotic relationship. It is therefore essential that the profit motives that accompany exciting new developments such as 3D, are not allowed to swamp the small budget productions that remain so central to European cinema.
“For me it’s a huge honour to have been invited to be talk to the most important and influential people dealing with European cinema, and to have been given the opportunity to make a real contribution to the future of something I care about passionately.”
Ms Everett is a Reader in Film & French at the University and a leading authority on European cinema. She was one of the first people to start building a case for film in a European context.