Crescine State of European Film : an overview of key industry trends, insights, and policy recommendations for the European Film and Audiovisual industry

Abstract

Three years ago, when CresCine - a Horizon Europe funded academia to industry project - commenced, the notion of arming the European film industry with deep, data-backed insights emerging from the intersection of academia and business seemed an unfathomable goal. Encounters between researchers, practitioners, and creators were scarce; engagement with decision-makers and policymakers across sectors was equally sparse with a few Admittedly, the times have changed radically within these 36 months: the value chain, particularly for independent and small-country films, has disintegrated with no long-term blueprint in place. The streaming landscape has consolidated further alongside the superstreamers and global platforms. The disparity between market leaders and independents has only widened alongside the digital - physical distribution gap,, and AI and virtual production´- once theoretical novelties - are now regular companions to EU filmmakers. Paradoxically, research and data-driven insights, once accessible only to well-resourced policy, business, and ecosystem actors, are now called for and needed more than ever. So, what has CresCine managed to achieve? Our biggest gain within these 36 months was to bridge the gap between academia and industry collaboration, taking the resulting deep knowledge directly to the stakeholders. Whether through our 10+ in-depth dossiers and policy guides, deep dives into audiences and the state of skills, the greening toolbox, or our digital tools FIDA (Film Industry Data Repository) - our database with data-driven dashboards and simulations - and CineFlux (AI driven tool for audiences and market research); CresCine managed to carve its way into powering the best decisions for the industry alongside its venerable foregoers from public and private entities, festivals and markets and our own native, small ecosystems in Europe. Secondly, we put small markets and their issues and contributions to European cinema back on the map, demonstrating that they are not monolithic but diverse ecosystems with their own avenues and contributions to the overall fabric of the EU’s audiovisual business. We looked into the state of skills deep and wide, highlighting limitations and opportunities for training managers and leaders, as well as diversifying the skills portfolio across the domain, especially in countries that only have a few specialists for the vertical. We synthesized the state of sustainability and greening into a coherent toolbox...