More than 50 European film festivals and audiovisual industry organisations have called on European Union member states to reject the proposed budget cuts to AgoraEU, the programme that will bring together EU policies on culture, media and democracy for the 2028–2034 period. A negotiating proposal put forward by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU would reduce the funding initially envisaged by the European Commission from €8.58 billion to €6 billion, a cut of nearly 30%.
The opposition has been expressed in two open letters launched by different sectors of the industry. The first brings together 16 organisations representing the European film and audiovisual sectors, while the second, promoted by the Short Film Coalition, has received the backing of 51 festivals and organisations connected to short filmmaking. Both initiatives warn that a reduction of this scale would undermine independent production, cultural diversity and cross-border cooperation.
AgoraEU was designed to bring together the Culture and MEDIA strands of the Creative Europe programme with the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, while expanding support for initiatives related to democracy and independent media. However, the €6 billion allocation proposed by the Irish Presidency would represent a considerably steeper reduction than the approximately 8% cut envisaged for the EU’s overall budget.
Among the organisations challenging the proposal are the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), the Federation of European Film Directors (FERA), the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE), the European Producers Club and Europa International, which represents international sales agents. Other signatories include the International Confederation of Art House Cinemas (CICAE), Europa Distribution, the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) and the European Audiovisual Production Association (CEPI).
The organisations argue that the proposed funding would not be sufficient to offset accumulated and projected inflation, particularly given the expanded responsibilities of the new programme. According to their estimates, updating the resources allocated to the MEDIA strand alone would require approximately €600 million over the 2028–2034 period. That amount would absorb a substantial portion of the apparent increase in funding compared with existing programmes, leaving insufficient room to maintain current financing capacity while taking on new responsibilities.
In response, the industry is calling for a dedicated funding strand for film and audiovisual production, with a minimum allocation of €3.5 billion over the seven-year period. Predictable funding, they argue, is essential to sustaining independent production, facilitating the international circulation of films and strengthening the competitiveness of the European industry amid digital and environmental transformations.
The campaign also involves the short film sector. The Short Film Coalition, an alliance of 16 organisations working across festivals, training, markets and professional networks, has warned that the cuts would disproportionately affect small and independent organisations. According to the coalition, reduced funding could deepen geographical inequalities in access to training, production opportunities and international distribution.
The alliance’s founding members include the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the European Network for Film Discourse (END), the European Short Film Network (ESFN), the Short Film Conference, the German Short Film Association AG Kurzfilm and CineSud. By 16 October, the letter had attracted a further 35 endorsements, bringing the total number of signatories to 51. These include festivals and platforms such as CPH, IDFA, DOK Leipzig, the Sarajevo Film Festival, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Uppsala Short Film Festival, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, CEE Animation and the When East Meets West market.
The coalition emphasises the central role of short films in nurturing emerging filmmakers, film education, audience development and the circulation of diverse perspectives, particularly among children and young people. In this context, it argues that festivals, professional development programmes and transnational networks are essential to ensuring that filmmakers from different backgrounds and regions can participate in European cultural life.
Signatories to both letters are urging member states to retain the original proposal of approximately €8.6 billion and establish a stable, accessible funding framework for cultural and audiovisual organisations, independent media and civil society.
Negotiations over the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 will determine the final budget for AgoraEU and its various funding strands. The decision will shape the resources available over the next seven years for film production, distribution, training, festivals and professional networks across Europe, at a time when independent organisations consider continued support crucial to preserving cultural diversity and ensuring that films circulate across the continent.