European screen directors discuss film financing, artistic freedom and collective bargaining at FERA General Assembly 2026

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This week-end, FERA hosted its annual General Assembly conference at MEDAA, in Brussels. It was the occasion for FERA new CEO Julie Belgrado to meet with its members for the first time since her appointment.

On Thursday 16 April, a delegation of screen directors from France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & the UK visited the European Parliament, where they met with 15 members of the European Parliament and assistants. These meetings provided a platform to advocate for stronger protection and financing of the European audiovisual sector by stating FERA’s key demands regarding the new AgoraEU programme.

The discussions also helped lay the groundwork for defending the quotas and investment obligations established under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). In addition, the FERA delegation raised concerns about artistic freedom and shared the growing threats and pressures currently faced by European screen directors.

Over the week-end, participants engaged in discussions on several major topics. Julie Belgrado presented the AgoraEU programme, its stakes for screen directors and discussed how FERA member organisations could help.

FERA partnered with Freemuse to launch their State of Artistic Freedom 2026 report. Director Sverre Pedersen highlighted how global political and social shifts are increasingly restricting artistic expression. From war to democratic decline, artists face growing legal, financial, and social pressures.

The General Assembly aimed at providing a safe and comfortable discussion space to exchange on the topic of artistic freedom and (self )censorship. After a Directors in Dialogue between Aylin Küryel & Firat Yücel, co-authors of Seen Unseen: An Anthology of (Auto)Censorship, participants reflected on their personal experiences and exchanged on potential actions to be implemented by FERA.

Finally, participants touched upon fair pay, working conditions through collective bargaining. Following a presentation by UNI MEI, FERA members from France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Finland, and the Netherlands presented case studies from their respective countries, leading to an exchange of experiences and best practices among participants.

The participants also enjoyed a guided tour of the “Origins of Cinema” exhibition hosted by Cinéma Palace with collectioneur Jean-Pierre Verscheure, historian of cinema technology.