We are pleased to announce that, in collaboration with FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations), we will host a roundtable discussion titled “The Creative Approach to Sustainability – From Storytelling to Action” at Marché du Film – Cannes Film Festival. The event will take place on May 20 at the Main Stage (Riviera) from 12-1pm and will also be accessible online. The debate, moderated by Le Film Français journalist Perrine Quennesson, will feature esteemed panelists including Claudia Augustinis, Head of Production in Netflix France; Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu, Film ..read more

Today we celebrate World IP Day 2023, and this year’s theme “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity” is the perfect opportunity to highlight a program launched by FIAPF and Women in Animation (WIA) almost two years ago: “Stories x Women”. The MPA is a member of FIAPF and many of our member companies are actively involved in WIA’s activities. I couldn’t agree more with something that the MPA’s Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said at the Berlinale that as an industry, it is not just our responsibility but also our privilege to reflect a more nuanced and authentic representation of ..read more

1997 was a great year for audiences across the world: the Italian Life is Beautiful directed by Roberto Benigni touched viewers with its moving story, British comedy The Full Monty by Peter Cattaneo made audiences laugh, and let’s not forget Luc Besson’s epic sci-fi survival movie The Fifth Element. Each of these films will be remembered as iconic. Yet there was one movie that struck audiences, smashing box office records around the world, to become an all-time favorite: Titanic. Films are a high-risk endeavor and success is never a guarantee! Titanic was one of the highest-priced films e ..read more

Toward Postwar Renewal… Aboard a Scooter “Birthdays aren’t important when you don’t have a real identity.” – from the movie Hard Boiled, directed by John Woo Ahhh, the Vespa. So practical. So cute. Italy’s postwar scooter sensation symbolized innovation and elegance in the face of adversity – and never more so than when being driven by Audrey Hepburn. When Hollywood studios started postwar production in Europe, they joined forces with a wealth of local culture and talent, giving a welcome boost to European economies with optimistic stories and images of rejuvenation. One ..read more

Hope and resilience in times of conflict It is difficult to celebrate a birthday and to be optimistic about our industry’s future during a time of war in Europe. At the same time, we can take some inspiration from the resilience of generations past. The 1938 Venice film festival offered a foreshadowing of things to come, when the Mussolini-led government rigged the results to favor fascist countries. MPPDA representative Harold Smith resigned from the festival jury in protest.  In a contemporaneous letter, he recalled that “[t]he president of the jury made us understand what films would b ..read more

Early Stirrings of MPA’s International Focus From its earliest days, the MPA and the industry we represent aspired to deliver entertainment to audiences around the world. The medium of film was, of course, far from just a “Hollywood thing.” The industry was from the outset, and is today, both global, human, and forward facing: the stories we write, loved by so many, thrive on cultural exchange and on daring audiences to look beyond the horizon. On the eve of World War I, in the summer of 1914, the Famous Players company boarded an ocean liner to Rome to shoot what was perhaps the first U.S. st ..read more

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, marking a century of protecting creative content and the livelihoods of creators and their business partners. In this series of blog posts, MPA EMEA President Stan McCoy recalls some of that history. If you ask a historian how MPA first rose to prominence, they might tell you about the Motion Picture Production Code or “Hays Code”. Named after former postmaster Will H. Hays, President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) from 1922 to 1945. “You know I’m gonna be 25 in June? That’s ..read more

On April 26 we celebrate World IP Day 2022! In his blog, MPA EMEA President & Managing Director, Stan McCoy explains MPA’s role in advancing this year’s theme – “IP and Youth Innovating for a Better Future”. When the World Intellectual Property Organization announced this year’s World IP Day theme, I was delighted. The young people of today are the storytellers, audience members and leaders of tomorrow. We believe that empowering them, and giving them the tools they need to create a better future, is crucial – not only for the audiovisual sector, but for all industries. That’s why the MPA ..read more

In his blog, Childnet International CEO Will Gardner reflects on a record-breaking Safer Internet Day and how young people can further embrace online safety through the charity’s Film Competition… February 8th saw thousands of schools, charities, businesses and other organizations come together to celebrate Safer Internet Day 2022. It was once again a record-breaker, with 3,424 official supporters throwing their weight behind the day and its theme: All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online Our Safer Internet Day research, unveiled on the day, showed the importance of online ..read more

‘We Are Stories’ gives a stage to emerging young filmmakers from Italy. It’s all about respect. As TV mobster Tony Soprano once said, “those who want respect, give respect.” While I don’t generally recommend Tony Soprano as a life coach, he had a point. In the film and television industry, we very much want to encourage respect for creators, for the value of their work, and for the livelihoods of people working in the industry. To get that respect, we know we also have to give it. Successful consumer education and awareness campaigns have to show respect for the audience. Consuming content fro ..read more