Society of Audiovisual Authors

Once in a while you get time to reflect on what you’ve achieved, in life and work and today is one of those days. I’m in Brussels celebrating 15 year of Society of Audiovisual Authors and the fantastic work that’s been achieved on behalf of authors by this organisation that I am proud to Chair. It feels like we have built a movement to speak up on behalf of screenwriters and directors with a collaboration of collective management organisations who work together for the good of their authors. I always find it amazing that policy makers and the general public always want to support authors but when it comes to asking for firm legislative support to do so, routinely it is always seen as ‘too hard’. We want our creators to add sparkle to our lives so let’s find ways of making sure authors can make a proper living from their works and Society of Audiovisual Authors will be at the heart of this advocacy for years to come.

Every month, Cécile Despringre, SAA Secretary General, sums up her main activities and shares an insight into the work of the SAA. Subscribe to her LinkedIn #newsletter, and read the October digest: In this edition: ✈️ From Ljubljana to Skopje: Strengthening regional solidarity 🍽️ SAA dinner with MEPs and LUX nominees ✍🏽 AI and licensing: SAA's response to Denmark's questionnaire 📅 4 November: Celebrating SAA's 15th anniversary 💬 Better to be in than out: the next AI Act Code of Practice #WeLoveAuthors

While organisations representing rightsholders in Brussels are vastly outnumbered by large tech companies, EU Member States continue prioritising licensing mechanisms and the role of collective management organisations (CMOs). Following the Hungarian and Polish EU Presidencies initiative to advance the discussions among member states on AI and copyright, Denmark followed up with a survey about licensing frameworks, to which the SAA responded. 📰 Read our latest blog post to find out what we’ve learned and how we responded: https://lnkd.in/e_ZX-sBK In short:    ⛓️💥 There’s no working system yet! 🔸So far, legal proceedings have been initiated in three EU countries.  🔸To date, only Spain and France have launched licensing initiatives.  🔸Commercial licensing agreements have yet to be established for audiovisual authors in Europe.     🔗 This is what could work (and what’s urgently needed) 🔸EU and national pressure for AI companies to be transparent about their training data.  🔸Remuneration mechanisms for authors through CMOs, irrespective of the licensing model.  🔸Presumption that AI uses copyrighted content.  🔸…But first, a structured dialogue is necessary!

Today Cécile Despringre shared insights at our Slovenian member AIPA's 15th anniversary conference in Ljubljana, presenting the most inspiring transpositions of Art 18 DSM for audiovisual authors. 🏆 Leading the way: Belgium, France, Slovenia and Poland - joining Spain and Italy, which already had strong legislation before Article 18. ✅ What makes a system work for both authors and users? - Remuneration paid by distributors based on actual exploitation - Tariffs negotiated collectively rather than individually - Support for healthy local industry development 📋 The four essential ingredients in law: 1. Statutory right 2. Unwaivable and non-transferable 3. Paid by users 4. Mandatory collective management 🔍 The reality check: - Progress: A majority of EU countries now have remuneration mechanisms with unwaivable rights and collective management in place. - Challenge: The situation remains far from harmonised. - Looking ahead: The 2026 Directive review must address this heterogeneity, particularly for modern distribution forms like streaming. 🎉 Congratulations to AIPA on 15 years of defending audiovisual authors' rights in Slovenia! #WeLoveAuthors (Photo: AIPA)

🗣️ The FERA - Federation of European Screen Directors, FSE - Federation of Screenwriters in Europe and the SAA have issued a joint statement demanding immediate action in response to 4 critical threats: ⚡ AI exploitation without author consent or payment ⚡ The trading away of European creativity in negotiations ⚡ The failure to enforce fair remuneration despite existing legislation, and ⚡ Growing attacks on freedom of expression. 🫱🏼🫲🏽 The European Parliament has long been the strongest ally of artists. In this moment of unprecedented pressure, it must raise its voice louder than ever - to defend creativity, diversity, and the democratic values at the heart of the Europe. This was the message from FERA, FSE and the SAA at their dinner with MEPs, filmmakers and members of their respective organisations. #WeLoveAuthors

🎬 A brand-new report from the European Audiovisual Observatory | Observatoire européen de l'audiovisuel sheds light on the status of artists and creative professionals in Europe!   📊 Key insights include: ⚈ 7.7 million people work in Europe’s cultural and creative sectors = 3.8% of EU employment ⚈ Nearly 1 in 3 creative professionals is self-employed, more than twice the EU average ⚈ 68% of artists juggle multiple jobs, often outside the sector to make ends meet ⚈ Over half of audiovisual authors face long periods without paid work ⚈ 53% work cross-border, but struggle with double taxation and lack of social protection 💶 Fair remuneration remains a pressing challenge: gaps in income, late or irregular payments, and precarious contracts are common. Digitalisation and AI are also raising new questions about how authors’ work will be valued and remunerated. 🤝 CMOs help address these issues: they represent authors and performers, support fair remuneration, provide training on contracts and digital rights, and engage in policy advocacy at European and international levels. 👉 To build a resilient cultural and creative sector in Europe, we must urgently strengthen social rights, ensure legal clarity, and guarantee fair working conditions for all artists and creative professionals!

Read Cécile Despringre September Digest: from Sarajevo Film Festival panels to grappling with 370 amendments to the EU Parliament's Copyright & AI report. September has been a busy month... ✨ Highlights: 🎬 Belgian director Cato Kusters joins the SAA Patron. Her debut feature 'Julian' will open the Film Fest Gent! ⚖️ The latest on copyright and AI negotiations: The SAA proposed establishing a high-level expert group on AI training and copyright, following Prof. Lucchi's study recommendations. 💰 Calling for culture in EU budget: the proposed AgoraEU programme offers no guarantees for audiovisual funding. Cultural diversity cannot be sacrificed for "competitiveness" alone. 🛡️ Supporting members across Europe: from Poland to Albania to Bulgaria, the SAA continues defending audiovisual authors' collective management organisations against national challenges. Don't miss the next one – subscribe to the newsletter! #WeLoveAuthors

🎬 Welcome to SAA's newest Patron, Cato Kusters! The SAA Board of Patrons - 51 screenwriters and directors from across Europe - support our work with their authentic voices and professional experience to the EU policy debates. 👉 Why? Because effective advocacy starts with listening to authors themselves. Cato Kusters is our youngest Patron; a Belgian director whose debut feature "Julian" had its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival and opens Film Fest Gent - 8 > 19 oktober 2025.   Cato joins our speaker lineup at the SAA 15th Anniversary Conference on 4 November to share her experiences. The testimonies of SAA Patrons provide essential insights as we explore concrete solutions to today's most pressing challenges - bringing authors lived realities directly to the policymakers and industry leaders who can address them. Authors are at the forefront of disruption: Europe's screenwriters and directors face unprecedented challenges that threaten the foundation of sustainable creative careers. They are navigating AI exploitation, streaming platform economics and eroding remuneration systems. ✨ Meet all #SAAPatrons: https://lnkd.in/d_tDAhAy ✨ Learn about Cato's work: https://lnkd.in/drZZyjqh I Cineuropa   🧡 #WeLoveAuthors deAuteurs I RITCS School of Arts