Institutional irresponsibility is the only explanation for the various circumstances that result in the fact that Montenegro is no longer part of the MEDIA sub-programme ("Creative Europe" program of the European Union), which supports the European film and audiovisual sector, assesses the professor of audiovisual production at the University of Montenegro. Vuk Vuković.
Vuković told the News regarding the information that Montenegro has been suspended from the sub-program, which is intended to provide financial support for the development, distribution and promotion of European films, as well as the audiovisual industry. The suspension is a consequence of non-compliance of Montenegrin legal regulations on audiovisual activities with European directives.
On the official website of the Film Center of Montenegro, it is explained that the MEDIA subprogram supports works with a European dimension; nurture new technologies, enable European films and audiovisual works to find new markets beyond national and European borders, finance festivals, professional training, audience development schemes...
Since 2015, Montenegro is (was) a member of the MEDIA subprogram, based on the Agreement with the European Union on participation in the Creative Europe program, which is intended for the sector of culture and creative industries. The agreement on the participation of Montenegro in the Creative Europe 2021-2027 program envisages the harmonization of state legislation in the field of audiovisual media services with the European Union Directive.
The suspension of Montenegro means that from January 31, 2024, organizations from the country do not have the right to participate in competitions of this Creative Europe subprogram.
"Legislative changes were suggested already in the previous decade and member states were given a deadline of September 2020 to respond to the revision of the directive on audiovisual media services, but the three Governments of Montenegro and the fourth during the first 100 days did not make this issue a priority. "If they had devoted as much time to the revision of domestic legislation as they did to the Instagram profile of the Ministry of Culture and Media, I am sure that we would not be in this situation," states Vuković.
The Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro did not respond to the questions raised on this occasion, and earlier they told the media that "the temporary suspension will be terminated and Montenegro will again be a full member of all subprograms after the Law on Audiovisual Media Services is adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro." ". Earlier, they pointed out that the process of drafting the Draft Law on Audiovisual Media Services is underway...
In the statement of the non-governmental organization "35mm" which he signs Snezana Nikčević, welcome the allegations that the regulation of the audiovisual sector is complex, noting that slow harmonization with existing regulations should not be an excuse, given that content distribution systems began to develop at the end of the last century.
"There is still an insufficient number of analyzes and data collected in these areas, as well as a systemic approach that would speed up and facilitate harmonization in favor of the national context. Therefore, the state is either not interested in this or has no capacity - or both. Such situations are not only a problem of culture or only the media, but a problem at the level of the entire country," Nikčević said in the announcement.
From "35mm" they point out that they received with serious concern the news about the suspension of Montenegro within the MEDIA sub-program of Creative Europe, which once again pointed to known problems:
"The lack of institutional memory and shifting responsibility indefinitely, as well as the essential and systemic need for change, especially in the domain of culture, which is reflected in our behavior and the principles we live by," he says. Nikcevic.
According to Vuković, institutional irresponsibility hides laziness and lack of concern for the continuity of what is important to preserve in cultural, as well as any other policies.
"As a society, we expect a policy of continuity in relation to the programs we have already won, but we also expect a policy of discontinuity in relation to the bad decisions we have witnessed in the past: declarative advocacy, party framing... It seems that we are showing a willingness to do the complete opposite ”, he says.
The Montenegrin director explains to Vijesti how important the support of this Creative Europe sub-program is Ivan Marinović whose film "Alive and Healthy" received that support.
"For my film, the MEDIA sub-programme was an extremely important step, with very valuable funds. MEDIA is one of the more flexible and liberal programs when it comes to financing the development of film and audiovisual projects. The seal that a project receives through the MEDIA program builds credibility for each project in co-production circles, and enables companies to survive and sustain themselves," says Marinović.
The director interprets this situation as "culture suicide".
"I don't understand the negligence of the authorities, and I wonder if these people are aware of the damage and shame they are causing to Montenegrin cinematography by their inaction, because for those of us who deal with this business, this kind of news is first of all a great shame, and then everything else. I have no further comment except that it is a suicide of culture", said Marinović.
Vuković adds that from this situation it follows that Montenegro is not a reliable international partner in this program.
"Essentially, this is a symbolic message that we sent - we are not ready to use the Creative Europe program, we do not have the political will to keep the program as a priority of international cooperation, but neither do we have the knowledge, skills and ability to use that program. In that Bermuda triangle is hidden the message that we visibly broadcast to other members of the MEDIA subprogram, especially to those who counted on Montenegro as an international partner in this program," concludes the professor of audiovisual production.
The funds from the fund were poorly used
In addition to Marinović, he is also known to be a director Ivan Bakrač received support from the MEDIA subprogram for his debut feature film "After the Winter". However, professor of audiovisual production Vuk Vuković questions how much the film and audiovisual sector in Montenegro used this line of support in general.
"I think that this answer also hides the answer to another question, and that is why the information about the fact that we are no longer a member of the MEDIA sub-program has gone so low under the paper. The fact is that in Montenegro this program did not produce significant results and that the funds from this fund were used very poorly, in almost all clusters. It seems to me that this speaks of the necessity of additional education precisely in the field of using international funds", says Vuković.
He reminds that at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, there is a whole series of teaching units in the field of film and audiovisual production dedicated to the issue of project literacy, precisely in the clusters that are part of the MEDIA subprogram.
"So, we deal with content, audience, and policies, but also with what we call the development of the business sector, i.e. the stages of preparing and realizing projects, and finally - reporting," says Vuković, who emphasizes the importance of financial support in the field of film and of the audiovisual sector that the MEDIA subprogram of Creative Europe offers, but until further notice not to applicants from Montenegro.
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