By Ulises Román Rodríguez
Mexico City is preparing to host, from November 5 to 7, 2024, the Congresses of the Federation of Latin American Audiovisual Authors' Societies (FESAAL) and the International Confederation of Audiovisual Authors (AVACI), an event that will bring together representatives from various countries around the world.
The host societies for this occasion will be the Mexican Society of Directors of Audiovisual Works (SOMEDIRE), one of the oldest in Latin America, founded in 1963, and the General Society of Writers of Mexico (SOGEM).
This summit promises to be a milestone in the protection and evolution of audiovisual authors' rights, marking a moment of great significance for the global industry. Horacio Maldonado, audiovisual director and screenwriter, Secretary General of DAC (Argentina), Secretary General of AVACI, and the Federation of Latin American Audiovisual Authors' Societies (FESAAL), provided details to AV Creators News about the objectives and expectations of the event, as well as the current context in which screenwriters and directors are working.
One of the most important points on the agenda will be assessing the achievements made in recent years in terms of author’s rights for screenwriters and directors. "We have achieved laws that favor author’s rights and remuneration rights for audiovisual authors, screenwriters, and directors, not only in Argentina but also in Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and Panama. We believe that this right will soon be achieved in Brazil, after a long struggle," Maldonado highlighted.
Undoubtedly, ensuring that creators receive fair remuneration for their work is one of AVACI's primary objectives, and the active participation of directors and screenwriters from each country has been crucial in implementing these regulations.
In addition to most Latin American countries, the Congress will include participants from other regions around the world. Among the attendees will be representatives from South Korea (DGK), India (SRAI), and Africa (APASER), particularly the Pan-African Alliance, which covers 27 countries from the continent.
“We are going to create the most important gathering of audiovisual authors that exists in the world today. There is no other international audiovisual authors' meeting as significant as this one, both in terms of the number of countries and the number of societies and audiovisual authors who will be present,” Maldonado said.
The Transformation of Audiovisual Production
One of the main challenges facing the audiovisual industry today is the growing influence of streaming platforms in content production and distribution. This phenomenon has deeply changed the working dynamics of authors and will be one of the central topics of the Congress.
“In recent years, especially after the pandemic, a large part of audiovisual production has shifted to digital platforms. This has brought a new paradigm in how a movie or series is produced for these platforms,” Maldonado explained, noting the impact that companies such as "Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, and other multinational platforms have on the industry".
The AVACI Congress will feature roundtables and discussions with film directors from various countries, where the challenges and opportunities brought by these new forms of distribution will be addressed.
“We are going to launch a series of professional talks and discussions with directors from Finland, Italy, Germany, France, and, of course, from Latin America, Korea, Africa, and India. We believe this will be a very enriching experience,” Maldonado added.
These exchanges aim not only to analyze changes in the way the industry operates but also to propose new ways to protect authors' rights in this new digital ecosystem.
AI: A New Tool for Audiovisual Creation
Another fundamental topic of the meeting will be Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its application in audiovisual production. Recently, AI has begun to play an important role in the industry, both in content creation and in optimizing production processes. “We will have a panel specifically dedicated to AI applied to audiovisual production, with a seminar led by a German specialist,” Maldonado explained. This space will offer a detailed look at how AI is transforming the landscape of audiovisual creation and the opportunities this technology can offer in terms of innovation and efficiency.
However, Maldonado also emphasized the importance of properly regulating AI use to prevent this technology from negatively affecting authors' rights. "We do not consider this a threat but rather a tool, but it must be analyzed in the context of being regulated in some way so that it does not harm basic acquired rights protected by intellectual property laws worldwide."
The AVACI Congress will also feature intellectual property experts, including Sylvie Forbin, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as representatives from the national author’s rights offices of countries like Colombia, Brazil, and Panama.
All of these institutions have played a crucial role in the implementation and defense of audiovisual authors' rights, and their presence at the Congress reaffirms the global commitment to protecting these rights.
A Space for Reflection and International Cooperation
The AVACI International Congress will not only be a space to discuss advances and challenges in author’s rights matters but also an opportunity to foster cooperation among audiovisual authors from around the world.
Horacio Maldonado emphasized the importance of these annual meetings to strengthen the ties between different rights management societies and create a space for dialogue between authors from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. “It is an annual celebration for audiovisual authors, a moment to meet, dialogue, and share full days together. This exchange is what has allowed these organizations to grow and strengthen year after year,” he said.
Since its early assemblies, AVACI has experienced exponential growth in terms of participation and international recognition. Maldonado, who has been present at all AVACI and FESAAL assemblies, highlighted the evolution of these organizations: "It has evolved in the sense that all the entities that participate today have promoted that these organizations are led by audiovisual authors. Today, AVACI is a globally recognized organization, and even FESAAL is an observer body within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), participating annually in its general assemblies in Switzerland."
This growth has allowed the demands of audiovisual authors to be taken seriously by governments worldwide. "When a conflict related to authors' rights arises in a country, the intervention of AVACI and FESAAL is an immediate concern for the governments involved. This has enabled our demands to be taken seriously by governments globally, achieving significant progress in the enactment of laws that protect authors," said the Argentine director and screenwriter.
In this context of constant change in the audiovisual industry, both the FESAAL International Congress and the AVACI Congress will mark a turning point for the audiovisual industry and author’s rights. With the participation of countries from all continents and an agenda addressing both current challenges and future opportunities, this meeting is shaping up to be a key platform for advancing audiovisual authors' rights globally.
"These events not only represent an opportunity to reflect on the current context of the industry but also to generate proposals that help improve the working conditions of authors and ensure that our rights are protected in an increasingly digitalized world," concluded Horacio Maldonado.
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