Europe Day in Cannes - 19 May 2008
The 6th Europe Day at Cannes Film Festival will take place on Monday 19 May 2008.
The theme of this year's event is 'Cinema, Dianying Yan, Kino, Chalchitra, Cine: building a world of exchange', which translates the word "cinema" into the languages of Europe, Asia and Latin America to symbolise Europe's willingness to build worldwide partnerships based on respect and diversity. This year's patron is Cristian Mungiu, the winner of last year's Palme d'Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
During the event, the European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, will have an informal exchange of views with EU Culture and Audiovisual Ministers about the possibility of creating a future programme on international cooperation in the audiovisual industry.
While the geographical remit of the current MEDIA programme is essentially European, a future programme would aim both to widen the cirulation of European audiovisual works to other countries of the world and to strengthen co-operation between audiovisual industries in the EU and in third countries (ie. countries not in the EU). A preparatory action, in anticipation of such an expansion, has recently been put in place entitled 'MEDIA International.'
The programme of Europe Day will include a conference for professionals on the new mechanism of MEDIA International. This conference will take place at 3.30pm in the Salon des Ambassadeurs, Palais des Festivals.