More than 80 European public agencies and broadcasters got together at the brainstorming event Animar_BCN, and the consensus is that Europe’s animation industry needs more funding, new quotas and a prioritization of European content on screens, devices and user interfaces.

Held in Barcelona at the end of November, Animar_BCN is a three-day forum where animation producers and policymakers debate and propose recommendations for improving the industry. Animation in Europe (AiE), which represents producer associations from 21 countries, then presents these recommendations to various oversight bodies. This is the second edition of the annual event.

Some companies and orgs that were involved this year include Animation Ireland, Animation in Europe, ICEX Trade and Investment and broadcasters such as RTP Portugal, DR TV (Denmark) and NRK (Norway).

The think tank concluded that animation in the region is under-financed. Its recommendations call for increased funding for development, as well as compatible financing systems to make it easier for companies in different parts of Europe to co-produce projects together. Additionally, AiE is in favor of training for producers on how to access existing but lesser-known private investor financing programs like MediaInvest. And funding for marketing is also on the wish list so that companies can start generating interest in their concepts earlier on.

AiE recommends that kids projects be classified as “difficult” productions, which would qualify them for more government funding (beyond the typical 50% limit that EU countries can fund), and also that policymakers impose a sub-quota for kids and family content on European broadcasters and streamers.

Furthermore, the AiE is calling for new regulations requiring that broadcasters, streamers and smart TVs prioritize EU-made content on-screen and also on devices and user interfaces. (Netflix and Amazon currently get buttons for their services on remotes, a practice the AiE says is “discriminating against European and local content providers”.)

AiE is now tasked with reaching out to European organizations including the European Audiovisual Observatory and the European Investment Fund to present these recommendations and push for change. It will give the industry an update on progress made in June at Annecy.

Photo of Barcelona, courtesy of Enes via Unsplash.