CINEMA : FILM MAKERS FIND THEMSELVES EURO-INCOMPATIBLE'.

"Under Barroso, we have reached new heights of hypocrisy and dishonesty, and Europe will suffer at the European elections due to the catastrophic incompetence of the European Commission - particularly regarding culture. I can't stand the sight of him!" Pascal Rogard, director-general of the French Society of Dramatic Authors and Composersa (SACD), admittedly took one of the most hard-line positions during a meeting of film makers in Dijon, France, hosted by the French society of authors, directors and producers (ARP), on 24-25 October. However, generally speaking, the Commission and Barroso, considered ultra-Liberal, are very unpopular within the profession, particularly since Barroso called directors "reactionary" after the exclusion of audiovisual services from a free trade agreement with the EU and US, obtained by France in June from its European partners.

Cinema professionals therefore hope that the future Commission will be less dogmatic. "We have won a major victory, and we will remain extremely vigilant during the next stage of commercial negotiations," hinted French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti.

"Cinema has always been Euro-friendly. I discovered Bergman on French television, and Truffaut was shown on German TV," emphasised director and scriptwriter Jean-Paul Salome. "The European network exists, but for European films to get to the big screens is becoming more and more difficult. We have had discussions, but these are no longer ongoing," he said, questioning the efficiency of cinema lobbying in Brussels - which several speakers described as "too French". More reflection is required here, they said.

Nonetheless, some positive notes were sounded regarding EU aid for the cinema under the MEDIA programme: the possibility of a Hungarian film about Roma being seen across the EU, as well as the German film Hanna Arendt', or thedynamism of several co-productions.

COMMUNICATION URGENT

Industry fears are now mainly focused on the cinema communication of 2001, which the Commission intends to reform in order to...