In November 2006 the European Parliament and the Council adopted a new programme to support and strengthen the European audiovisual sector: MEDIA 2007. The budget for this programme is €755 million over seven years (2007-13).

Like its forerunners, MEDIA 2007 will focus on preproduction and post-production activities (distribution and promotion). However, in contrast to MEDIA II (1996-2000) and MEDIA Plus/MEDIA Training (2001-2006), EU funding will be channeled through a single programme.

MEDIA 2007 is divided into five action lines:

• the training of professionals
• the development  of production projects (drama, documentary, animation, multi-media) and companies
• the distribution of cinematographic works and audiovisual programmes
• the promotion of cinematographic works and audiovisual programmes, including the support for cinematographic festivals
• horizontal actions/pilot projects

For more information about the MEDIA programme, please contact Media Desk Malta on 22915046 or 21230715, email: mediadesk@gov.mt. You can also log on www.media.org.mt to view on the recent calls for proposals and to download guidelines and applications.

MEDIA Desk Malta

The main objective of MEDIA Desk Malta within the Ministry for Tourism and Culture is to inform professionals in the audiovisual sector of the various support arrangements available and to provide assistance to candidates in Malta who wish to benefit from the EU MEDIA programme.

The role of the Media Desk includes:

• Publicising and promoting the MEDIA Programme
• Encouraging maximum participation by professionals in the programmes’ activities
• Assisting professionals with the presentation of projects in response to call for proposals
• Fostering trans-border cooperation between professionals
• Liaising between the various support bodies in the Member States with a view to ensuring that programme activities complement national support measures
• Providing feedback to the competent Maltese authority responsible for the audiovisual sector on questions and issues related to the sector.