The European Commission's MEDIA programme for cinema celebrated its 20th anniversary in Cannes. Since 1991, the MEDIA programme has invested more than €1.5 billion in the European cinema industry and this is the reason why this year European Commission celebrates this occasion with 20 European film directors, the European Commissioner for Culture Androulla Vassiliou and Gilles Jacob, President of the Festival in an event in which, the future of film-making in Europe will be discussed.

The European Commissioner for Culture Androulla Vassiliou will hold meetings with, among others, the French Minister for Culture, Frédéric Mitterrand, industry representatives, and some of the personalities behind the films. In addition, the Commissioner will present the 2011 MEDIA European Talent Prize for the best film project to female scriptwriters Virág Zomborácz and Hanna Sköld.

The European Commission's MEDIA programme aim is to improve the distribution and promotion of European films and strengthen the competitiveness of the sector. Around half of the funding goes to distributors showing films made outside their own domestic market, with 20% allocated for film development and the remainder for promotion and training. Production companies selected for support receive on average grants of €50,000.

Films receiving support from MEDIA have won 12 Palme d’Or, 13 Grand Prix and 9 Best Director prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.