September 8, 2023 • 80th Venice International Film Festival
In a rapidly globalizing world, innovative platforms dedicated to audio-visual products have revolutionized the film industry, breaking traditional barriers and making cinema accessible to a vast audience of 4 billion and growing. To embrace this transformation and foster new cinematic expressions, the Conseil International du Cinéma et de la Télévision CICT ICFT at UNESCO, and OCCAM – Observatory on Digital Communication are proud to announce the XXV Euromediterranean Conference on Cinema, born in 1995 in the wake of the Barcelona Agreements by initiative of the European Parliament, Gillo Pontecorvo (former Director of Venice Film Festival) and Gilles Jacob (former Director of Cannes Film Festival).
Hosted during the Venice International Film Festival, the Conference has evolved into a prestigious cultural event gathering eminent personalities from all over the world thus fostering projects for Euro-Mediterranean integration and its socio-economic development. Notable accomplishments include the establishment of several film festivals, the creation of the Permanent Conference of Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM), and collaboration with UNESCO and the European Commission on audiovisual programs. The conference also contributes to peace and tolerance through awards at the Venice Film Festival, notably the Enrico Fulchignoni Award now in its 35th edition, and promotes European values and multiculturalism. Additionally, it has been involved in e-health and food security initiatives, creating the World Health & Food Security e-Center and launching the eMedMed project for e-health communication in the Mediterranean.
On the path traced by the previous discussions, scheduled for September 8, 2023 in Venice, this 25th edition will address the theme "Platforms and AI: The Rise of Global Cinema?" to explore the potential of AI tools and platforms in shaping the cinematic landscape while ensuring that human creativity and expertise remain at the core of the filmmaking industry and that opportunities for marginalized creators are guaranteed, promoting cultural diversity and exchange.
A thorough reflection is therefore essential to delve into the evolving cinematic language and navigate the challenges and possibilities of this new era. The XXV Euromediterranean Conference on Cinema will thus collect high-level suggestions and considerations from experts and professionals to draw a set of guidelines and a Plan of Action for decision and policy-makers, interested parties and Civil Society to take full advantage of the openings of this transitioning period.
Stay tuned for more information on this momentous celebration of cinema's role as a powerful medium for communication and cultural understanding.
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