Trending Now - 4,700 Filmmakers Urge EU to Revamp MEDIA Funding Ahead of Cannes

WHO:

Variety - Pawel Pawlikowski, Lukas Dhont, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and over 4,700 film personalities signed an open letter.

Deadline - Juliette Binoche, Francis Ford Coppola, Joachim Trier, Ruben Östlund, Stellan Skarsgård, Sandra Hüller, and Vicky Krieps are among the signatories.

WHAT:

Variety - The open letter calls for the European Union to reconsider its plans to overhaul the Creative Europe funding program.

Deadline - The letter urges the EU to "future-proof" the 35-year MEDIA program, which has supported thousands of films.

WHERE:

Variety - The letter is directed to the European Union.

WHY:

Variety - The signatories are sounding the alarm over the planned changes to the funding program, indicating concerns about the impact on the film industry.

Deadline - The motivation behind the letter is to ensure the continued support of the MEDIA program for the film sector.

HOW:

Variety - The signatories have collectively expressed their concerns through an open letter.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 13:23 UTC)

An open letter signed by over 4,700 film personalities, including notable figures like Juliette Binoche and Francis Ford Coppola, is urging the European Union to reconsider its plans to overhaul the Creative Europe funding program. The letter emphasizes the need to "future-proof" the 35-year MEDIA program, which has been crucial in supporting thousands of films, and expresses concerns about the potential negative impact of the proposed changes on the film industry. This collective effort highlights the signatories' commitment to ensuring continued support for the MEDIA program, which plays a vital role in the film sector.