Creative Hub GR and ELIAMEP Roundtable Discussion on Film Industry Policies
On April 10, 2025, the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) hosted a timely and insightful discussion on the future of European cinema, as part of the Horizon Europe-funded REBOOT project (Reviving, Boosting, Optimising and Transforming European Film Competitiveness). Organised in partnership with EKKOMED - Creative Greece, the event brought together researchers, policy experts, and cultural practitioners to reflect on evolving film industry policies and the role of Greece as an emerging reference point in shaping European audiovisual strategies.
Under the title “Film Industry Policies in Europe: Greece as an Institutional Reference Point for Film Promotion and Education”, the dialogue addressed the pressing challenges facing the European film sector, from digital transformation and the influence of social media to policy fragmentation and shifting audience behaviours, particularly among younger generations. Central to the discussion was the call for a more unified European policy approach that strengthens competitiveness while remaining inclusive and culturally diverse.
Professor Katherina Sarikakis, coordinator of the REBOOT project and director of the Media Governance and Industries Research Lab at the University of Vienna emphasized the importance of rethinking European film competitiveness beyond market-based indicators, calling for a more values-driven, inclusive framework that supports creative diversity and democratic participation in film governance.
Eirini Andriopoulou, head of the Creative Hub GR at EKKOMED -Creative Greece and REBOOT researcher, highlighted Greece’s evolving institutional strategies, which connect audiovisual production with public engagement and cultural education. She pointed to several national initiatives as examples of how Greece is becoming an influential player in shaping European policy dialogues. Associate Professor Eirini Sifaki, director of the Interart Studies Lab at the University of Thessaly and also a REBOOT researcher, stressed the crucial role of audiovisual education. She argued that educating young people in media literacy and cinematic expression is not only key to cultivating informed audiences but also essential for empowering a new generation of creators with critical and cultural insight.
The discussion highlighted the need for productive collaboration between culture, education, and institutional strategy to boost the competitiveness and promotion of European cinema.
Under the title “Film Industry Policies in Europe: Greece as an Institutional Reference Point for Film Promotion and Education”, the dialogue addressed the pressing challenges facing the European film sector, from digital transformation and the influence of social media to policy fragmentation and shifting audience behaviours, particularly among younger generations. Central to the discussion was the call for a more unified European policy approach that strengthens competitiveness while remaining inclusive and culturally diverse.
Professor Katherina Sarikakis, coordinator of the REBOOT project and director of the Media Governance and Industries Research Lab at the University of Vienna emphasized the importance of rethinking European film competitiveness beyond market-based indicators, calling for a more values-driven, inclusive framework that supports creative diversity and democratic participation in film governance.
Eirini Andriopoulou, head of the Creative Hub GR at EKKOMED -Creative Greece and REBOOT researcher, highlighted Greece’s evolving institutional strategies, which connect audiovisual production with public engagement and cultural education. She pointed to several national initiatives as examples of how Greece is becoming an influential player in shaping European policy dialogues. Associate Professor Eirini Sifaki, director of the Interart Studies Lab at the University of Thessaly and also a REBOOT researcher, stressed the crucial role of audiovisual education. She argued that educating young people in media literacy and cinematic expression is not only key to cultivating informed audiences but also essential for empowering a new generation of creators with critical and cultural insight.
The discussion highlighted the need for productive collaboration between culture, education, and institutional strategy to boost the competitiveness and promotion of European cinema.
