Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has announced the first 34 projects funded under the new MEDIA Mundus funding programme at the opening of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival on 10 February. The European Commission will also have a stand at the European Film Market of the Berlinale, encouraging access for smaller companies to the international market.

The 34 projects selected to receive support under the first MEDIA Mundus call for proposals launched July 2011, will help to overcome structural weaknesses including under-investment and market fragmentation which has hampered the distribution of European films. As highlighted by Commissioner Vassiliou at the launch of the first MEDIA Mundus projects in the opening ceremony of the Berlinale, EU funding channelled under this Programme aims to encourage international co-productions, boost worldwide distribution and make the industry more competitive.

The MEDIA Mundus Programme has a budget of 15 million euro over 3 years between 2011 and 2013 and will fund projects aimed at encouraging mobility and exchanges between European film-makers and their counterparts around the world. The idea is to improve access to international markets and to strengthen the distribution of European films in non-European markets and vice versa.

MEDIA Programme and the The Berlin International Film Festival

European films supported by the MEDIA Programme are frequently selected for the Berlinale Film Festival competition and several have won prizes in the recent years. In its 61st edition, The Berlin International Film Festival will feature 22 European films co-financed by the European Union's MEDIA programme. Among these films, some of the most awarded and successful of the year such as the The King's Speech which has received 12 Oscar nominations. These productions have received a total of 1 million euro in support, mainly for film development and distribution throughout Europe.

Overall, the European Commission's MEDIA programme will contribute €755 million in support of Europe's film industry from 2007-2013, with a focus on improving the distribution and promotion of European films. Production companies selected for support typically receive grants of 50,000 euro on average. The European Commission also supports more than 100 festivals across Europe through its MEDIA programme.