On Friday, Luxembourg signed an agreement for cross-border co-development and launch of a development fund to support audiovisual (film) production across the Greater Region.

The formal signing session was carried out at the 37th Max-Ophüls-Preis Film Festival currently underway in Saarbrucken, by representatives of the four countries of the Greater Region: Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg.

Dr. Gerd Bauer, representative of Saarland Medien and instigator of the agreement, welcomed the success of this cooperatio and stated "Today the film professionals can claim to enjoy a new way of development for their projects. Through this fund, money will again be injected into the Greater Region". The Fund should have an annual allocation of €55,000 and is aimed at writers and producers whose projects are linked to the Greater Region.

The Deutsche Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) - the regulatory body for German cinema - also partners this co-development agreement and thus also supports the Greater Region. "As a native of the Saar region, I know well that for people of this region, it has been normal for decades to lead a life beyond borders. And what is true in everyday life, can be applied to the world of culture" stressed Peter Dinges, FFA representative. "It's not to put themselves on a level with Berlin and Paris, but this agreement signed today will allow us to make a first step towards the development of more joint projects in the Saar-Lor-Lux Greater Region! Although the endowment of this fund pales compared to the high costs that represent the production of a film, €55,000 will allow us to support two to three scenarios annually, written by young authors."

Guy Daleiden, director of Film Fund Luxembourg, stated that is it a great step forward in international co-productions: "In recent years we have supported a large number of international coproductions. This agreement ultimately improve the financial conditions of development in the Greater Region and strengthens our ties with our German, Belgium and Lorraine neighbours for more interregional projects under the existing 'Vacation Guide' and 'Production Guide'. The objective of this agreement is to boost the production of films by supporting the development of projects from the Greater Region".

"The participation of the German-speaking community of Belgium in this partnership - however small - allows good visibility and perception of the audiovisual sector," said the Belgian Minister, Isabelle Weykmans. "Arts and culture bind the partners of the agreement. We have here a high potential in terms of cultural diversity and influences that offer an ideal environment to the development of exciting stories that should translate into future scenarios."

The new Alsace Champagne-Ardenne Lorraine (ACAL) region, which, along with the Centre national du cinéma de l´image animée (CNC), represented the French partners which are still in their early development. The representative of the ACAL Region, Patrick Thil, is particularly confident and welcomes the agreement which will bear fruit for the Lorraine audiovisual sector and cross-border collaboration. The CNC support the efforts of the ACAL and welcomes the conclusion of the agreement, a sign of more international cooperation in the film sector.

The partners in the co-development agreement are:

• Deutsche Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)
• Région Alsace Champagne-Ardenne Lorraine (ACAL)
• Centre national du cinéma de l´image animée (CNC)
• Film Fund Luxembourg
• Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgien

Photo by Jennifer Weyland, all rights reserved (top, L-R): Guy Daleiden (Film Fund Luxembourg), Patrick Thil (Région Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine); (bottom, L-R): Peter Dinges (Filmförderungsanstalt Deutschland), Dr. Gerd Bauer (Saarland Medien GmbH), Isabelle Weykmans (DG Belgien