• MEDIA PROGRAM

Over the past 16 years, MEDIA, the EU’s support program for the European audiovisual industry, has supported the development and distribution of thousands of films as well as training activities, festivals and promotion projects throughout the continent. From 2001-2006, more than half a billion euros were injected into 8.000 projects from over 30 countries.

The new MEDIA 2007 program (2007-2013) is the fourth multi-annual program since 1991 (previous programs) and has a budget of € 755 million. It simplifies the program’s administration but certainly not its objectives:
• to strive for a stronger European audiovisual sector, reflecting and
respecting Europe’s cultural identity and heritage;
• to increase the circulation of European audiovisual works inside and
outside the European Union;
• to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector by facilitating access to financing and promoting use of digital technologies.
The MEDIA program is implemented via annual work program. MEDIA 2007 is divided into five action lines:
• training of professionals;
• development of production projects and companies;
• distribution of cinematographic works and audiovisual programs;
• promotion of cinematographic works and audiovisual programs, including
the support for film festivals;
• horizontal actions/pilot projects.
Independent production and distribution companies can apply for development or distribution funding in the form of grants and interest free loans. Financial assistance is available for training providers and organisers of markets and festivals. Practitioners in the audiovisual industry such as producers of film, television, animation, new media companies, distribution and sales companies and also‚ enabling‘ organisations such as training bodies or film schools, promotional events or festival organisers.
The European Union adopted a new MEDIA Mundus programme, a broad international cooperation programme for the audiovisual industry to strengthen cultural and commercial relations between Europe’s film industry and filmmakers of third countries. The EU will provide €15 million of funding from 2011-2013 for projects submitted by audiovisual professionals from Europe and from third countries.
The official site of the MEDIA program is available at: www.ec.europa.eu/media

MEDIA and Bulgaria
Bulgaria is part of MEDIA family since 2002. The MEDIA’s information desk in Bulgaria is opened since 2003.

MEDIA Desk - Bulgaria
Head: Mr. Kamen Balkanski
2 A, Dondukov Blvd., last floor
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
tel.: + 359 2 988 32 24
tel./fax: + 359 2 987 53 69
e-mail: info@mediadesk.bg
website: www.mediadesk.bg

• EURIMAGES

Eurimages is a cultural support fund established in 1989 within the framework of the Council of Europe. Since 2011 Russia has become its 35th member state. Eurimages promotes the European audiovisual industry by providing financial support to European cinematographic works. In doing so, it encourages cooperation between professionals established in different European countries.
The Board of Management defines the policy of the Fund and takes the decisions on support. It is composed of representatives of all member states and meets four times a year. Eurimages has four support schemes: coproduction, theatrical distribution, exhibition, theatre digitisation.
A main condition of obtaining Eurimages support is the project to be an international coproduction between at least two member states. Every coproducer has to have at least 50% of the financing in place.
The official site of Eurimages is available at: www.coe.int/eurimages

Eurimages and Bulgaria
Bulgaria has been a member of Eurimages since 1993. The state has signed the European Convention of Cinematographic Coproduction in 2005 and has bilateral coproduction agreements with France, Italy, Canada and Russia.

EURIMAGE National Representative
Head: Mrs. Gergana Dakovska
2 A, Dondukov Blvd., Fl. 7, BNFC
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
tel.: + 359 2 987 40 96
fax: + 359 2 987 36 26
e-mail: gergana@nfc.bg
website: www.nfc.bg