Solutions to the major challenges of sustainability and the shortage of skilled workers, the stabilization of personal networks and growing crisis resilience have shaped 2022. The vast majority of industry participants have recognized sustainability in particular as an opportunity and joined the respective initiatives. With the EU's new CSRD directive, we will see a legal framework for the mandatory implementation of ESG guidelines from 2023. Every link in the supply chain will have to be involved so that broadcasters, streamers and distributors can fulfill their sustainability reporting obligations. The training initiatives are slowly but steadily becoming effective, despite all the other crises. Despite the sobering election manifestos, the new federal government has its sights firmly set on culture with its impact on society as a whole and the economic power of the media. 2022 was not the hoped-for, comprehensive recovery for the economy and society, but the bottom line is that important steps in the right direction have been taken in many areas.
We will discuss the expected changes in the new year at the beginning of the new year. Now let's first look back. In 2022, film production will experience another boom year. Cinema is coming back thanks to American blockbusters. Due to Warner's unprecedented strategic adjustment towards cinema, a restructuring of funding must now be discussed - and that is exactly what is happening. A reorientation was even put out to tender for the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. Federal funding is also questioning the concept of German funding, certainly influenced by Austria, Hungary and not least Great Britain.
Environmental protection was already discussed in detail by the major industry participants in America 12 years ago. Driven by the "Me-Too" scandals and the social discussions about gender and minority justice, the focus today is primarily on the joint effectiveness of environmental protection, social sustainability and management quality. After a two-year Corona break, the delegation trip to the USA gave the participants exciting insights into the changes in the international entertainment industry. If German funding were easier to access and more efficient, following the British model, Germany would be in absolute pole position in continental Europe. The technical infrastructure and availability of filmmakers are considered excellent in international comparison. Comprehensive sustainability, especially social aspects such as equal opportunities and fairness, also play important roles in the USA.
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) will become binding throughout the EU as a result of the decision of the European Council on November 28, 2022. The transition periods sometimes conceal the timeliness. By extending the reporting obligations to the supply chain and also possible risks, sustainability affects the entire economy, including the creative industries. If the delivery date is in 2024, the areas affected in the manufacturing process must be documented today. In the past, the MAZ card was also crucial for broadcastability (if the paper was not there, the contents of the tape were not broadcastable) and was merely a financial document for accounting, but this has now changed. In addition to the statement of assets (balance sheet), profit and loss account (P&L) and management report, sustainability must be reported just as bindingly and reliably in the future. Just like in financial accounting, this requires reliable data.
Through a new joint venture, Ensider now offers project-related data collection in a very simple way and billable on a project cost basis. Anyone who wants to maintain the data later will hardly be able to achieve the legally required quality. This topic is currently primarily an issue for production management and producers. Group controlling naturally focuses on its own reporting obligations. This bi-focality must be affordable, because this data will be required at the latest when contract productions are accepted.
The EU's CSRD (Corporate Social Responsibility Directive) simultaneously and unintentionally ensures better training and further education. Social sustainability is reflected in particular through personnel development and qualification measures. In addition to the teaching activities of our partners at Xperts network and International Film Partners, we support the Munich Film Workshop initiative with a " Master of Arts for Film & Digital Media ". This qualification program addresses not only production, but also programming in the broadcaster, at the distributor or at the festival. The daily practical work is reflected academically through online teaching. A lack of a bachelor's degree can be compensated for by adequate professional experience. Companies can also get involved in many ways and thus retain skilled workers.
Know-how and exciting information directly from representatives from politics, funding, production and exploitation accompanied us throughout the year. The Forum Media Conference, the Talent Summit and also the Forum Filmwirtschaft can still be accessed via our media library for a short time. We would like to thank our Solution:Partners for pioneering solutions and insights into current challenges. The topic of digital employment contracts received special attention this year due to the new written form requirements for employment contracts and, thanks to adag payroll services, a fantastic solution for all short-term employment contracts on set. BigHug FX inspires large-scale productions with collaborative cluster management for many projects in Germany and the USA. This year, Italy was also an important production location and, with Cattleya as a service and funding producer, was easily accessible. With new locations and an expanded range, Ludwig Kameraverleih is expanding its position in equipment rental and system solutions. At the Hamburg location, Optical Art offers unique solutions and services in post-production, which are also offered within the group in Berlin. In its anniversary year (50 years of PKR), the broadcasting pension fund was able to win Netflix as a partner, thereby stabilizing social sustainability for all freelancers. In Warsaw and Budapest, the theater arts offer costume expertise for major international projects, thus extending its offering from Germany - now with digital solutions for more service and time savings. International Film Partners completes the Solution:Partner as the initiator. Free offers from Ensider:Services and invitations to industry events are regularly available directly from your contact at one of the Solution Partners, because together we achieve more.
Special thanks go to the associations and companies in our Ensider:Partner program. They enable the further distribution of many free contents and also sponsor seminars and events, among other things.
We now have around 15,000 regular readers via email newsletter or on LinkedIn. We would like to thank you very much for this on behalf of all our sponsors and partners. We wish you all a happy holiday season and a good start to the new year!
Your Ensider:Team
(Author: Markus Vogelbacher)
(Image: IFP Entertainment GmbH)