SAA

European Parliament backs authors on AI: FERA, FSE and SAA call on the Commission to act The Federation of European Screen Directors, the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe and the Society of Audiovisual Authors, welcome today's adoption by the European Parliament in plenary of its res...

👏🏼 Today the European Parliament voted with a clear message: GenAI companies cannot keep building billion-euro businesses on the works of screenwriters and directors without authorisation, remuneration or transparency.

Read our press release www.saa-authors.eu/articles/eur...

Audiovisual authors deserve more than an opt-out that doesn't work While Generative AI is reshaping the audiovisual sector rapidly, the rules governing how authors' works are used have not kept pace. European screenwriters and directors are having their livelihoods t...

🎬 Read our latest blog post, breaking down what the Axel Voss report means for audiovisual authors, why CMOs are the key to a functioning licensing market, and why the EU Commission needs to act now, without waiting for the DSM Directive review.

Read it here 👇
www.saa-authors.eu/articles/aud...

Secretary General's Digest February has been one of those months where the calendar looked impossible and yet, somehow, everything got done. As a European association, it's that time of year when we are preparing for our annual...

"February has been one of those months where the calendar looked impossible and yet, somehow, everything got done." Read Cécile Despringre's February digest about Berlin, Brussels, royalties & market numbers

www.saa-authors.eu/articles/sec...

The European audiovisual market and authors' royalties Valued at €141 billion, the European audiovisual media sector is one of the continent's most valuable cultural and economic assets. Yet non-European players dominate the streaming market, capturing 89...

✨ We are pleased to introduce the first SAA Flash Report on the European audiovisual market and our members’ collections for audiovisual authors. Europe's audiovisual sector is worth €141 billion, playing a central role in our cultural identity.

👉 www.saa-authors.eu/articles/fla...

Secretary General's Digest After a great winter break with my family in sunny South of France, I returned early January to Brussels and delved deep into the technical details of the implementation of the AI Act for two consulta...

✨Read Cécile Despringre monthly digest, which summarises her and SAA's January activities!

👉 www.saa-authors.eu/articles/sec...

#WeLoveAuthors

Meet our member: UFUS AFA Protection in Serbia Serbia gave the world 'Who's Singin' Over There?', still regularly voted the country's greatest film over 40 years after its 1980 premiere. Its director Slobodan Šijan is among the many authors whose ...

In our latest blog post, Annica Ryng speak with Stefan Gelineo, Director of UFUS AFA, and their lawyer Stevan Pajović about the working conditions, legal achievements, ongoing copyright reform and future challenges in Serbia.

👉 Full interview: www.saa-authors.eu/articles/mee...

#WeLoveAuthors

“When we started, CMOs barely had a voice in Brussels”

In a new Cineuropa interview, Cécile Despringre reflects on how the SAA works, its role in the audiovisual ecosystem, and the challenges ahead: from fragmented remuneration systems to streaming and AI.

➡️Read the full interview below

AZAS's fight for authors' rights in North Macedonia North Macedonia, at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula with 1.8 million citizens, has an impressive cinematic track record. Milcho Manchevski's debut feature Before the Rain (1994) brought the country...

🎬 Read our interview with Kiril Gjozev, Secretary General of AZAS!
Despite holding a licence since 2018, AZAS cannot operate, as government has still not approved its tariffs. The consequences are severe: €26 million unpaid royalties in 2019-2024

🔗 Full interview: www.saa-authors.eu/articles/aza...

A win! WIPO will study audiovisual authors' rights At its 47th session that closed at the end of last week, the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) discussed and adopted the ...

WIPO to launch a global study on authors’ rights!

At its 47th session, the WIPO adopted the African group's proposal for a global study on "The Rights of Audiovisual Authors and their Payment Mechanisms for the Exploitation of their Works".

Check the full news 👉 www.saa-authors.eu/articles/a-w...

⏰Apply before 28 December⏰

If you are a Master’s student, want to work on copyright, AI, and media policy at the European level, and are interested in the cultural and creative sectors ... you might have what we are looking for 👀

Read the internship description and apply here 🔗 lnkd.in/dFMvsbxN

Secretary General's Digest It's been a memorable November! First, I enjoyed a festive celebration with SAA members and guests in Brussels followed by a strategic gathering in Skopje that put the spotlight on authors' rights in ...

Read Cécile Despringre's November digest!

✨ We marked 15 years defending authors' rights, held a Skopje seminar issuing the “Skopje Call”, continued shaping the Code of Practice on AI transparency, and now head to Geneva for the WIPO committee

www.saa-authors.eu/articles/sec...

#WeLoveAuthors

This week, 70 participants, including CMOs, audiovisual authors and cultural institutions from Central & Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, gathered in Skopje to strengthen CMOs and ensure fair remuneration for screenwriters and directors across the region.

saa-authors.eu/articles/skopje-call

SAA 15th Anniversary Conference and Networking: Audiovisual authors' rights in disruptive times Interviews and key moments from SAA 15th Anniversary Conference, where creators, experts, and industry representatives discussed AI, copyright, and the future of…

🎬 This video brings together the highlights of the SAA 15th anniversary conference, along with exclusive interviews with some of our speakers!

Watch it here 👉 vimeo.com/1138868579?s...

(Director: Anja Strelec I Production team: Iva Galovic)

🎉15 years together!
In a fast-changing world, screenwriters and directors face growing pressure. The AI Act is a step forward, but key questions remain on enforcing copyright in the age of AI.
We shared ideas to protect authors’ rights & shape the future.
📸 More on our site and Facebook!

Secretary General's Digest After rushing to yet another airport, and leaving my suitcase in the office, I realised that I was juggling a lot at the same time! In October, I travelled to three countries, delivered different pres...

Read SAA Secretary General's Oct digest:

✈️ From Ljubljana to Skopje
🍽️ SAA dinner with MEPs and LUX nominees
✍🏽 AI and licensing: SAA's response to DK questionnaire
📅 Celebrating SAA's 15th anniversary
💬 Better to be in than out: the next AI Act Code of Practice

www.saa-authors.eu/articles/sec...

CMOs challenges in the AI era - part 2 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 manage...

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: www.saa-authors.eu/articles/cmo...

Visual showing the five films that are nominated for the LUX Audience Award 2026.

The five films that are in the running for the LUX Audience Award 2026 have been announced.

This award highlights the European Parliament’s commitment to culture and education by supporting European cinema and promoting cultural diversity.

🔗 Learn more: link.europa.eu/RfbT4R

El secretario general de DAMA, Ricardo Gómez Cabaleiro, ha participado ha participado en la reunión de la junta directiva de @saabrussels.bsky.social.

“More industry people will work with AI, and more AI people will work with the industry” Industry News posted by Chris Evans about “More industry people will work with AI, and more AI people will work with the industry” on The Location Guide.

"AI cannot make a full Hollywood movie (yet). It's not like you go on ChatGPT and say make me a full movie. You need people, stories and vision to understand how everything works. I don't see AI replacing everyone anytime soon."

www.thelocationguide.com/industrynews...

Ampere Analysis’ Guy Bisson unpacks the “anime-fication” of Europe’s animation, streamers’ retreat and AI’s disruption 10/10/2025 - Interest in anime has been rising steadily for over a decade, and Western Europe’s current animated output increasingly mirrors this trend, says the expert at MIA

"AI tools can reduce production costs and timelines by up to tenfold... such efficiencies come with serious caveats: potential job losses for animators, greater dominance of user-generated platforms like YouTube, and unresolved issues around copyright and IP ownership"

cineuropa.org/en/newsdetai...

In the picture: Carolin Otto (Chair @fsescreenwriters.bsky.social), Bill Anderson (Chair @screendirectors.eu ERA) and Barbara Hayes (Chair SAA)
Photographer: Pascal Bastien

Audiovisual authors call on the EU Parliament to hold the Commission and Council accountable to EU values. At the FERA, FSEand the SAA dinner with MEPs and filmmakers, the organisations called on MEPs to defend EU values against growing threats

Read full news: www.saa-authors.eu/.../message-....

Secretary General's Digest The last time I wrote was at the end of July, when I wished everyone a relaxing summer break. Yes, I had a break, but it feels like a long time ago already! Since my return and participation in a Cine...

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...

www.saa-authors.eu/articles/sec...

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@deauteurs.bsky.social

Welcome to Cato Kusters, the newest – and youngest - addition to the SAA Board of Patrons!

🎬 Discover Cato and her debut film “Julian” in Cineuropa’s interview: cineuropa.org/en/interview...

🔗Meet our Patrons here www.saa-authors.eu/board-of-pat...

#SAAPatrons 🧡 #WeLoveAuthors

A/80/278: Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki - Artificial intelligence and creativity In this report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur Alexandra Xanthaki builds on her previous report on digitalisation and cultural heritage and turns her attention to the ways in which art...

The UN Human Rights Office has now published its report on ‘AI and human creativity’, in which the SAA’s contribution is quoted twice!

🔗 Read the full report here: www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/a80278-report-special-rapporteur-field-cultural-rights-alexandra

Back from summer and ready for a busy autumn? 🍂🧑‍💻

Check our Newsletter! mailchi.mp/saa-authors/...

In this edition, we reflect on recent developments and share what’s ahead for the season. Stay connected to discover key updates, upcoming events, and stories from the SAA community ✨

CMOs challenges in the AI era Copyright protection in the AI era is in jeopardy. As the AI Act entered into force on 2 August, the challenges of copyright and AI remain not only unsolved but are becoming urgent. While the EU insti...

The results of the Polish EU Presidency's survey reveal the challenges that European collective management organisations (CMOs) and rightsholders face today.

✨ Read our latest blog post www.saa-authors.eu/articles/cmo...

CineLink Industry Days

🎬 Are you going to the SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL? If so, make sure you don't miss the panel discussion on 21 August about 'AI, Authors’ Rights & Guild Solidarity.

Cécile Despringre, the SAA Secretary General, is one of the speakers!

www.cinelinkindustrydays.com

mk2 unveils second annual AI film festival to highlight ethical use of artificial intelligence Cedric Klapisch is the jury president.

“For AI to become a new creative tool, it is absolutely essential to ensure this artificial intelligence is not guided by the natural stupidity of certain human beings,”

- Director (and an SAA Patron) Cedric Klapisch, Jury president for the AI film festival

www.screendaily.com/news/mk2-unv...