Over 4,700 European film professionals sign open letter defending EU MEDIA programme

More than 4,700 European film professionals have signed an open letter titled 'Cinema, the beating heart of European democracy' in defense of the EU's MEDIA programme. The letter, published ahead of crucial negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034), warns that the European Commission's proposal to merge MEDIA into a new programme called AgoraEU—which would combine cinema, audiovisual, video games, journalism, and news media—threatens the cultural and industrial ecosystem that has supported European cinema for 35 years. Signatories include prominent directors, producers, distributors, and actors. The letter emphasizes that MEDIA represents only 0.2% of the EU budget yet has enabled European films to win Oscars nearly every year, citing Flow, Sentimental Value, and Mr Nobody Against Putin in 2026. It also highlights MEDIA's role in supporting exiled filmmakers like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof. The intervention comes as European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen is expected to attend the Cannes Film Festival on May 15-16, while EU member states prepare their first official position on the proposal.