Cinema and audiovisual media

Cinema: Activities

u The first step was to investigate the state of the seventh art in Member States and existing international mechanisms in order to begin to develop an appropriate analytical framework. Eventually it was hoped to produce an authoritative appraisal with a view to promoting a development strategy for this particular industry which is in many respects fundamental to the promotion of culture and the creation of jobs.

u With the assistance of the National Commissions and public and professional institutions in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the foundations of this work have begun to be laid.

u A workshop on the state of the cinema in the countries bordering the Mediterranean was organized by the Portuguese Commission for UNESCO in Figueira da Foz, Portugal, from 1 to 3 September 1998, in association with the Secretariat. The meeting reviewed existing cooperation mechanisms and adopted a final document in the form of a Declaration.

u A systematic effort to discover sources of information was undertaken with the help of several international
non-governmental organizations, in particular the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual
Communication (IFTC), which itself comprises a large number of other international bodies and has therefore
become an important partner for action.

  Priority Africa

uu The cooperation that is developing with the Organization of African Unity and the League of Arab States focuses mainly on the cultural industries. By way of example, UNESCO contributed to the second Afro-Arab Trade Week held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 30 October to 8 November 1998, and assisted in the preparation of the cultural component of the Afro-Arab Trade Fair held in Dakar, Senegal, from 15 to 25 April 1998.

uu UNESCO also helps African film-makers to participate in festivals in Africa and elsewhere, such as the African Film Festival of New York. It offered its support to FESPACO and takes a close interest in all initiatives designed to develop the distribution of African films. Accordingly, it responds to the invitations it receives, for instance to Sithengi (Third Southern African International Film and Television Market) and many other festivals and markets.

u All these encounters, which help to advance our thinking on the subject, demonstrate that one of the key aspects for the future of national film-making in the age of globalization, notably in Africa, is the ability to improve the distribution of national films or coproductions both domestically, including people living in very remote areas, and abroad. This, incidentally, was the central theme of FESPACO 1999 ("Cinema and distribution circuits in Africa").

uu As regards training, another key to the development of the film industry, action has been decentralized to the field units, in particular Luanda and Bangui. The principal activities involve training for women professionals.

uu In 1999 UNESCO continued to provide assistance for the introduction of national film policies, at the request of Member States, for example by carrying out an initial assessment in Niger, which has just set up a National Film Centre.

 Cinema promotion

u To support the efforts of Member States to formulate national and regional strategies for the development of the film and audiovisual industries, a survey on cinema production in the world was undertaken in collaboration with UNESCO National Commisions and professional institutions.   These results were analyzed in March 2000 (Click here to access the survey).

u UNESCO’s interest in cinema also extends to the content of certain films which can help to disseminate the fundamental values enshrined in its Constitution.

u uThis is why UNESCO sponsors events featuring works which convey messages of peace, tolerance, understanding between cultures and the defence of human rights.( See publications)

u uThis is also why it participates in festivals of short films made by children and adolescents, awarding prizes to the films which best illustrate these values, for example the "CIAK Junior" Festival in Treviso (Italy).

Last update 02/10/01