Directors Guild of Cyprus Backs European Filmmakers Manifesto, Calls for Cinema Protection
Statement from the President of the Directors Guild of Cyprus, Athena Xenidou
European filmmakers have united to issue a manifesto defending the cultural identity of European cinema against increasing pressures to prioritize market-driven values over artistic expression. The manifesto highlights the historical and cultural significance of cinema in Europe, calling for it to be recognized as a cultural domain rather than a mere creative industry subject to market laws. Filmmakers warn that recent EU policy shifts threaten to undermine cinema’s role as an art form, pushing it toward standardization and commercialization, and they demand that cinema remains protected as a cultural exception.
In response to FastForward’s inquiry, Athena Xenidou, President of the Directors Guild of Cyprus, shared the following statement, expressing the Guild’s unwavering support for the European Filmmakers Manifesto and its call to recognize cinema as a vital cultural asset within the European Union.
The Directors Guild of Cyprus proudly supports the European Filmmakers Manifesto and its vital call for the recognition of cinema as a cultural exception within the European Union. We believe that cinema is a unique form of cultural expression that reflects our shared values, identities, and stories, and therefore must be protected and prioritized as a cultural asset—not merely a digital product or commodity.
We believe that cinema is a unique form of cultural expression that reflects our shared values, identities, and stories, and therefore must be protected and prioritized as a cultural asset
We urge the Deputy Ministry of Culture in Cyprus to uphold cinema’s status as a cultural exception, ensuring that policies and funding mechanisms favor its development, preservation, and accessibility. By doing so, we affirm our commitment to fostering vibrant, diverse, and independent cinematic voices that contribute to the richness of our cultural landscape and to European identity as a whole.
The Directors Guild of Cyprus stands united with filmmakers across Europe in advocating for a future where cinema remains a cherished cultural heritage, safeguarded from the standardization and commodification of digital markets.
Together, we will work to preserve the cultural importance of cinema for generations to come.
