Sustaining AV Creators in a shifting market: CISAC and VG Bild-Kunst bring AV creators’ voices to Berlinale 2026

CISAC Bild Kunst AV panel event
Articles

As the global audiovisual industry gathers in Berlin for one of the world’s most influential film festivals, CISAC and VG Bild-Kunst will place creators’ rights firmly on the agenda at Berlinale 2026 with a high-level audiovisual creators panel  focused on the economic sustainability of screenwriters and directors amid profound market change. 

Date: 13 February 2026
Time: 15:45-17:45 (CET)
Venue: EFM Conference Lounge, Gropius Pavilion, Niederkirchnerstraße 7, Berlin
Livestream available

Titled “Sustaining AV Creators in a Shifting Market: The Economic Power of Authors’ Rights”, the CISAC- VG Bild-Kunst roundtable will address the economic importance of statutory remuneration rights, the impact of streaming-driven models, the growing impact of generative AI and buy-out practices across the audiovisual value chain.  

While audiovisual works continue to generate immense cultural and economic value worldwide, many of the creators behind them remain inadequately protected and under-remunerated. In some regions, directors and screenwriters are still not recognised as authors under copyright law. Even where recognition exists, only a limited number of countries—primarily in Europe and Latin America—provide effective statutory remuneration rights for the use of audiovisual works.

The rapid expansion of streaming platforms, new digital distribution models and advances in generative AI has further intensified these long-standing challenges. Buy-out practices, weak negotiating power and the lack of recurring royalty income continue to undermine creators’ ability to sustain long-term professional careers and benefit fairly from the ongoing exploitation of their works.

Leading international AV creators on the realities of today’s AV sector.

The panel will bring together leading creators from Europe and Latin America to share first-hand their experiences of these global issues. Confirmed panellists include:

  • Carlos Gaviria, director, screenwriter and producer (REDES, Colombia)
  • André Mielnik, screenwriter and producer (GEDAR, Brazil)
  • Inés París, director and screenwriter (SGAE, Spain)
  • Bill Anderson, director and screenwriter (Directors UK, United Kingdom)
  • Jobst Oetzmann, director and screenwriter (VG Bild-Kunst, Germany)

The discussion will be moderated by Samuel Sangwa, CISAC Regional Director for Africa.

Collective management in action

Following the creators’ panel, a fireside chat with collective management organisations will explore how CMOs are responding to creators’ evolving needs and priorities. Speakers will include:

  • Urban Pappi, CEO, VG Bild-Kunst
  • Andy Harrower, CEO, Directors UK
  • Nieves Maroto, Head of Audiovisual, SGAE

The session will be moderated by Leonardo de Terlizzi, CISAC Senior Legal Advisor, and will highlight concrete initiatives and strategies designed to strengthen creators’ rights and income streams worldwide.

Attendance is free of charge and open to all, with a maximum capacity of 100 participants. The session will also be livestreamed, and a recording will be made available after the event. 

For further information and to register please click here.