Reviving, Boosting, Optimising and Transforming European Film Competitiveness - REBOOT

Project Information

REBOOT

Grant agreement ID: 101094796

DOI

10.3030/101094796

Project closed

EC signature date 9 December 2022

Start date 1 February 2023

End date 31 January 2026

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 3 881 691,25

EU contribution

€ 3 823 688,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAT WIEN
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REBOOT (Reviving, Boosting, Optimising and Transforming European Film Competitiveness - REBOOT)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

REBOOT aims at boosting the competitiveness of the European Film Industry (EFI). The project plans to revisit and recalibrate the determinants of international competitiveness, aligning them with European cultural values, diversity, and gender equity.
The objectives are twofold: first, to analyse existing strengths and gaps in European competitiveness and policies, and second, to prepare for future audience preferences and production methods. This dual focus looks at both historical and future trends, considering how today's youth will influence the industry as future makers, consumers, and leaders. Key research areas include:

1. Diachronic Understandings of Competitiveness and Europeanness: Investigating the evolution of 'competitiveness' and 'European' in the EFI.
2. Institutional Context: Examining the laws and policies governing the EFI.
3. Professional Framings and Strategies: Analysing industry professionals' approaches to the international market and European identity.
4. Future Trends: Identifying future trends in creativity, skills, production, and audience preferences.
5. Measuring and Evaluating Policies: Analysing the impact of pan-European policies and promoting EU values.

The expected scientific impact includes valuable insights for scholars in various fields such as film studies, cultural economics, and European law. REBOOT aims to support film industry professionals and policymakers through evidence-based analyses and recommendations. Outputs like the REBOOT Dashboard, REBOOT Indicators, and policy agendas will assist policymakers and stakeholders, with key deliverables designed to facilitate the uptake of project results. Key stakeholders are closely involved in the research process to enhance the relevance and impact of findings.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project is organised in the following research areas:
Diachronic Understandings of Competitiveness and Europeanness in the EFI: The report "Competitiveness in European Law" examined how European institutions address competitiveness and cultural diversity in their audiovisual policies. Ongoing research includes the VoD market evolution in Spain and Poland and the role of National Film Institutes in Spain, Finland, and Poland.

The Institutional Context of the EU Film Industry: explores the EU filmmaking regulatory framework through mapping and comparative analysis, consolidated into working documents discussed at a methodological workshop. Semi-structured interviews across Austria, Greece, Belgium, Poland, France, and Spain support this research, resulting in publications of a book chapter and upcoming reports on public value governance and fringe filmmaking. Promoting the EFI internationally involves policy research and stakeholder mapping in EU Member States, leading to interviews with public authorities and industry stakeholders. Research on EU law and governance also includes a comprehensive review of literature and policy sources and the role of EU delegations in promoting EFI, using EU Film Festivals as case studies, with interviews conducted in the UK, Canada, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Framings and Strategies of Cinema Professionals: investigates the EFI at the international market through interviews with European film associations and an online survey across national film associations and focuses on coping strategies of creative non-mainstream filmmakers within the EU copyright framework, examining practices in specific sectors like short movies and independent films; analyses how international film professionals in countries like Argentina, Brasil, and South Korea understand 'Europeanness' in their strategies.

Building Future Competitiveness: explores young people's film preferences and cognitive skills in content creation, aiming to enhance EFI's future competitiveness. This includes case studies, surveys, and experiments with students to understand film consumption and production trends. Research activities are focused on analysing preferences, interactions, and creative production processes, with deliverables such as reports and comparative studies.REBOOT is speaking with almost 4500 children and youth across Europe in this process.

Indicators and Recommendations: maps the socio-economic status of the EFI, producing empirical results on economic indicators and their integration into SDG frameworks. Activities include quantitative mapping and the development of a competitiveness dashboard, involving partners in data collection and monitoring.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The concept of 'competitiveness' in the European audiovisual sector is multifaceted and closely linked with 'cultural diversity.' The EU has managed to balance promoting competitiveness while protecting cultural diversity through sophisticated regulatory frameworks and funding instruments. Moreover, interviews with representatives from the European Film Academy highlighted young jury members' appreciation for substantial themes, with the Youth Academy Awards playing a key role in promoting film literacy. A survey tool was developed to capture young people's film preferences, translated into multiple languages, and is currently collecting data. Experiments with students on memory and perception in both natural and virtual reality settings revealed cognitive differences influenced by mixed reality environments. Additionally, a comparative analysis of orchestra recording sessions identified best practices in film music production. The report on indicators related to the socio-economic impact of the EFI highlighted a lack of systematic empirical research focusing specifically on the industry and its socio-economic aspects.

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