As the 77th Cannes Film Festival rolls out the red carpet, discover how the European Union supports filmmakers.
While pandemic restrictions impacted the film industry globally, European film production largely recovered by 2022. 1 960 films were produced in the EU and the United Kingdom in 2022, representing the second highest production level since 2014. However, cinema audiences have not returned: cinema attendance in the EU and the UK in 2022 represented only 67 % of the average pre-pandemic admission levels.
Meanwhile, the strong United States presence in the EU film market means European film makers need public subsidies to compete. American productions make up two thirds of the films on offer. Since 2013, EU State aid rules allow EU countries to support film production, distribution and promotion budgets by up to 50 %, and up to 60 % in the case of co‑productions funded by more than one EU country. In contrast, there are no limits on aid for script writing or film-project development, or for difficult works (defined by each EU country).
The EU programme supporting the cultural and creative sectors in 2021‑2027, Creative Europe, dedicates €34 million to European film distribution in 2023, and €5.5 million to European film sales. Moreover, €16 million in ‘Films on the Move’ funding encourages agents and theatrical distributors to invest in pan-European promotion and distribution of recent European films.
The Lux Prize also helps overcome distribution barriers for European films. The five films featuring in the competition’s final stage are subtitled in the 24 official EU languages and screened in cities and festivals throughout Europe, providing a wide European audience.
Further information
- EPRS publication ‘Creative Europe programme 2021-2027’, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2018)628229
- EPRS publication ‘Coronavirus and the European film industry’, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2020)649406
- European Commission ‘Creative Europe’ programme website on media, https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/creative-europe-media-strand
- EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service: https://epthinktank.eu
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