At the Cannes Film Festival, the Commission is launching an awareness campaign aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion in the film and news media industries and at highlighting gender equality and the role of women in the sector. The campaign, titled ‘CharactHer', is the first initiative with a clear focus on diversity and inclusion launched under the framework of the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. Values and Transparency Vice President Věra Jourová, will participate in the launch event and join the panel discussion on obstacles women face along their careers.

Vice President Jourová said: “As we overcome the pandemic we have to make sure that women take a centre stage of our recovery efforts. With this campaign, we hope that we can inspire many women so that Europe can make the most of all its talents.” Her opening speech will be available here.

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton added: “When we presented the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan in December, our priority was very clear: diversity must be placed at the forefront of our efforts in the recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sectors. The promotion of inclusion is not only our social responsibility, but a crucial piece in our path towards a more resilient and competitive industry.”

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The ‘CharactHer' campaign is set within a broader policy effort aimed at strengthening the Commission's agenda of a Union of Equality via the EU Gender Equality Strategy. The campaign, run in collaboration with Collectif 50/50, will kick-start in the framework of the Cannes Film Festival, where 17 EU-supported films are competing for awards. In the context of the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival, the Commission will also participate in several events within the framework of the Creative Europe MEDIA programme.

More information is available here.

Two EU-supported films received awards at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival that took place online last week: the Silver Bear for Best Director went to Dénes Nagy for ‘Natural Light' (Természetes fény) and the Special Jury Award in Encounters went to ‘Taste' (Vị), by Lê Bảo. Nine EU-supported films and series were nominated for awards. The EU supported the development and co-production of these titles with an investment of over €750,000, awarded through the Creative Europe MEDIA programme. This first phase of the festival hosted the European Film Market, which included an edition of the European Film Forum on the future of the audiovisual sector in Europe. Various professionals from the industry highlighted the importance of more collaboration across different fields to further innovate by bringing together cinemas and new technologies among others, mirroring some of the topics identified and brought forward by the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. The second round of this year's festival, ‘The Summer Special', will take place in June 2021, opening the films to the public and hosting the official award ceremony.

The 71^st Berlin International Film Festival began on 1 March, this year in its digital edition due to the coronavirus pandemicnine EU-supported films and series, three of which are competing for the highest prize, the Golden Bear: Memory Box by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Nebenan (Next Door) by Daniel Brühl, and Természetes fény (Natural Light) by Dénes Nagy. The EU supported the development and co-production of these nine titles with an investment of over €750 000 that was awarded through the Creative Europe MEDIA programme. Targeted to film professionals and media, the Berlinale film festival is hosting the European Film Market, where the Creative Europe MEDIA programme is active with a virtual stand as well as with the European Film Forum. The Forum that will take place online on 2 March will gather various professionals from the industry to discuss the future perspectives for the audiovisual sector in Europe. The Berlinale will run until 5 March, when the winning films will be announced. The second round of this year's festival, ‘The Summer Special', will take place in June 2021 and will open the films to the public and host the official Award Ceremony. More information is available here.