European Producer Association CEPI Welcomes Canadian Bodies

Canada and Europe have been moving closer together politically, and now their media production bodies are doing the same.

CEPI, the European Audiovisual Production Association, has welcomed the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and the Association Québécoise de la Production Médiatique (AQPM) as its first international observer members.

CEPI represents 3,000 independent production companies in 17 countries through 19 national associations and one European association, and now counts the two Canadian bodies among its ranks.

The European Union and Canada have moved closer politically together during the Trump Presidency, and their media bodies have followed suit, with CBC/Radio-Canada the first non-European network to become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union over the summer and Canada set to compete in the next Eurovision Song Contest.

CEPI will work with the CMPA and AQPM to strengthen dialog and coordinate on shared advocacy issues such as regulation of streaming services, domestic production requirements, IP and rights, and co-productions.

The news comes after the three bodes and other producer associations from Australia and across Europe signed a joint statement calling on governments to protect domestic production and local storytelling at the Toronto International Film Festival last month.

“The arrival of CMPA and AQPM as CEPI’s first international observer members reflects the increasingly international nature of the audiovisual industry,” said Anthony Muldoon, President of CEPI. “While Europe and Canada may be an ocean apart, the challenges and opportunities facing our independent production sectors are remarkably similar. We share a commitment to supporting independent producers and creating original stories that reflect our respective cultural realities.”

CMPA President and CEO Reynolds Mastin added: “Canadian and European independent producers face many of the same challenges, from modernizing regulations for the digital age to ensuring that local stories continue to be told, and to making sure domestic producers have a fair opportunity to own their work. We are stronger when we tackle these challenges together.”

Hélène Messier, President and Executive Director at AQPM, called joining CEPI “a great privilege,” as she flagged challenges such as generative AI, diversity of cultural expression and preservation of cultural sovereignty.