Poland signed the Council of Europe's Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production

On July 18, 2017 Poland signed the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production (revised) in Strasbourg. On the Polish side, the document was signed by Ambassador Janusz Stańczyk, Poland’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe.

Changes due to dynamic changes in the audiovisual sector

The Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production (revised) will replace the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production, signed in Strasbourg on October 2, 1992. Poland has been party to this treaty since March 1, 2003. 

Changes in the 1992 Convention are due to the dynamic development of modern technologies, deepening differences in the systems of financing film production in European countries, as well as economic and financial changes in the audiovisual sector over the past 25 years. Another reason for revising the 1992 Convention was the noticeable trend to include producers from non-European countries in co-productions (i.e. through bilateral agreements).

Convention due to enter into force on October 1, 2017 

The Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production (revised) was laid out for signing on January 30, 2017 in Rotterdam. During that ceremony, the document was signed by representatives of ten states (Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia). It was later signed by representatives of another four countries (Cyprus, Lithuania, Spain, and Sweden). To date, three countries have ratified the convention (Norway, Slovakia and Sweden). As a result, the Convention will enter into force on October 1, 2017. In Poland, the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production (revised) will enter into force after ratification, as stated in Article 89 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

Key elements of the revised Convention

“As a representative of the producers’ community I can only express how glad I am that Poland signed the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production, because the revised Convention facilitates making films as co-productions, both as majority and minority co-productions. The Convention also introduces separate regulations for various types of films: feature, documentary, and animated films. These three types of films are subject to different production practice,” says Irena Strzałkowska, Poland’s representative to the Eurimages Fund.

Some of the key elements of the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production include:

  • various facilitations for producers;
  • lowering minimal contribution to 5% of the total budget;
  • introducing different regulations for feature, documentary and animated films — different point systems for the three types of films;
  • changes regarding deliverables (digital prints as opposed to film);
  • removing the requirement for European origin for producers (excluding the United States, due to differences in the legal system).

Source: http://www.mkidn.gov.pl/pages/posts/polska-podpisala-konwencje-rady-europy-o-koprodukcji-filmowej-7538.php

20.07.2017