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FERA at the 76th Berlinale: A week of dialogue on authors’ rights and the future of audiovisual creation
17 February 2026
The FERA team and a delegation of its Board attended the 76th Berlinale from 12 to 17 February 2026.
On Thursday 12 February, CEO Julie Belgrado participated in the Cineuropa General Assembly, where she was elected to the new Board. A FERA delegation then joined the annual joint meeting with partner organisations FSE and SAA. Discussions focused on upcoming challenges for audiovisual authors and on developing a common strategy regarding AI legislation and the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).
On Friday 13 February, Chair of the Board Bill Anderson spoke at the CISAC and Bild-Kunst roundtable, “Sustaining Audiovisual Creators in a Shifting Market: The Economic Power of Authors’ Rights.” Authors from across different regions highlighted the universal struggle of making a sustainable living as creators.
On Saturday 14 February, Board member Chiara Sambuchi spoke at the Nordic Film Music Days and ECSA panel, “The Dynamics of Composing for Film.” The discussion, featuring a filmmaker, a producer and a composer, explored the collaborative process of developing a film score, underlining that music should be integrated early in the creative process rather than treated as post-production. The FERA team also attended the Creative Europe MEDIA panel, “Lessons for the Future,” which addressed market transformations, including the rise of global platforms and shifting audience behaviours, the need for better data, and increased investment in training.
On Monday 16 February, FERA participated in the CEPI–SPA Policy Roundtable on international and European approaches to streamer regulation, including a presentation by the Screen Producers of Australia on their national framework.
On Tuesday 17 February, FERA took part in several events organised by its German member BVR, including a networking “speed dating” session between audiovisual sector associations. Julie Belgrado also presented FERA and its work at the industry panel.” The FERA team further attended the LUX Audience Award panel, “Balancing Cultural Diversity, Artistic Freedom, and Competitiveness in the Platform Era,” which explored the cultural sovereignty question in the evolving European legislative framework.
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