CAMERIMAGE FORUM

From the very beginning, one of the main aims of CAMERIMAGE was the contribution to the growth of the cinematographers' prestige and by this, to support their recognition as co-authors of the movie. Thanks to our engagement and efforts of the Polish Society of Cinematographers, the autorship right act was changed by adding the cinematographer (film image author) as a co-author of audiovisual work. The cinematographer today is recognized as a creative talent, who artisticaly contributes to the film, in the same way as the director, the composer or the screenwriter does. Poland is the world's second country, after Bulgaria , where cinematographers achieved their deserved rights.

Camerimage Festival 's ambition is to become an international forum of discussions on authorship rights in the audiovisual work. We would like to create a platform to exchange experiences, provide legal and artistic arguments to representatives of foreign cinematographers' societies unable to achieve their rights so far, being still treated as craftsmen. We would also like to take under consideration the task of audiovisual work's integrity. Working conditions of cinematographers are essential as they become worse every year. As expenditures are reduced, the financial and social situation of cinematographers becomes critical and, by thus, quality of their work is lowered. The unique event of last year's Festival was the seminar devoted to authorship rights and working conditions of cinematographers called CAMERIMAG forum. Members of national societies of cinematographers from Great Britain , France , Germany , USA , Brazil , Belgium , Bulgaria , Hungary , Portugal , South Africa and Poland took part in the seminar. The preparation of the Forum was supported by the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) and the German Society of Cinematographers (bvk), along with Goethe Institute in Warsaw . The effect of the Forum was the Declaration of International Assembly of Cinematographers on the CAMERIMAGE Festival and the revolutionary text in which cinematographers commit that their profession is underestimated and as filmmakers they demand to have the same rights as directors or producers. The Declaration encouraged the association of german societies of film professionals to establish a system checking the working contracts in Film & TV industry (more information: www.camerimage.pl ).

Another interesting subject is the integrity of a film and its disruption with advertising breaks by commercial TV stations. During CAMERIMAGE 2005 the organizers prepared a special appeal to Polish authorities concerning this case. Almost all CAMERIMAGE participants undersigned the appeal. The organizers continue the works on that matter by collecting legal opinions and undertaking many consultations. Changes must concern the European law. That is the reason the most ideal venue to dispute this subject is an International Festival such as CAMERIMAGE.

It is also a very concerning subject for the CAMERIMAGE organizers, why public Polish TV station refuses to present sponsors and patrons while broadcasting cultural events, despite no law regulations on that. In the same time it is common to present sponsors of sports events. This situation harms cultural initiatives, while it has been already quite difficult for cultural institutions to gain financial resources for their activities. Large concerns and companies are more likely to fund sports events to have the guarantee of being advertised in the media: a sportsman with his outfit filled with companies' names standing against a background of advertising banners is a well-known view from television.

This years CAMERIMAGE forum will take place on November 29 th (Wednesday) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Subjects of the Forum:

Legal situation of the author of cinematography in Polish law (legal and artistic arguments for cinematographers recognition as an co-author of the audiovisual work)

Cinematographers working conditions and strategies of protection

Film work integrity and its disruption with advertising breaks by commercial TV stations

Refusal to present sponsors of cultural events in public Polish TV broadcasts

Lecturers of the Forum:

Jost Vacano (bvk) - cinematographer, author of cinematography of Das Boot (has been fighting for cinematographers' authorship rights for 20 years)

RA Dr. Nikolaus Reber - attorney, Munich chambers RAe Dr. Roth & Kollegen

RA Christlieb Klages - attorney, Berlin chambers HERTIN

Johannes Kirchlechner (bvk)

Dr. Michael Neubauer (bvk)

Johannes Kirchlechner (bvk)

Wlodzimierz Dziomdziora - member of the National Broadcasting Council

Eva Ribera - attorney, Madrid chambers Diaz - Bastien & Truan,

Porfirio Enriquez - Spanish Association of Cinematographers

Speech titles:

"Cinematographer rights in Europe and Latin America ", Eva Ribera

"Right of Integrity in Television Film Broadcasting", Eva Ribera

"Shooting Fiction Films for TV: The working conditions in Germany ", Johannes Kirchlechner (BVK)

"Reasonable Participation in Revenues and Profits for Creative Talent in the Film Industry", RA Dr. Nikolaus Reber

"Different National Laws - European Regulations - Multinational Treaties", RA-Christlieb Klages

"The Cinematographer - Creative Partner in Filmmaking", Jost Vacano

"Working Conditions in AV-Media: Developing Protection Strategies", Dr. Michael Neubauer

 "The Working Reality: Cinematography for German TV", Johannes Kirchlechner

Please, contact if you would be interested in taking part in the seminar as a lecturer. We would be happy to have more statements from many countries participating in CAMERIMAGE 2006.

Please contact: camerimage@camerimage.pl