AUDIOVISUAL POLICY : COMMISSION APPROVES FUND FOR GERMAN FILM INDUSTRY.

The European Commission, on 21 December, endorsed Germany's new film fund in support of film production. The fund, which has a total budget of 180 million, provides direct grants to film producers to encourage the production of feature films, documentaries and animation films. The Commission's assessment of the scheme was based on the criteria set out in its 2001 communication.

In order to be eligible for support under the scheme, films have to pass points-based eligibility tests, depending on the type of film. These tests are composed of three parts ( cultural content,' creative talent' and production') and they include a cultural pre-test.

The new funding scheme has been approved until 31 December 2009, which would then correspond with the planned extension of the current system as announced by the Information Society Commissioner, Viviane Reding, to MEPs on 19 December. The extension, if approved, will expire...