European Cinema in the Streaming Era : Policy, Platforms, and Production

This collection examines the impact of streaming platforms on European cinema. It is structured from three distinct points-of-view: the policy issues related to streaming platforms, equally at the European level and in individual countries; the impact of platforms on the circulation of European films, including some of the global players, multi-national and single-nation platforms operating in Europe; and the production activities of the platforms in the form of specific ‘original’ films. By bringing together scholars working on various national cinemas, including those of France, Spain, Britain and other countries, this collection illuminates the many ways in which the European film industry is responding to the digital revolution. Foreword: European Cinema Face-to-Face with Silicon Valley References Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Introduction European Cinema and Streaming European Cinema in/and the Streaming Era: Periodisation and Time Line The European Film Industry in Transition The Structure of This Collection European Cinema in the Streaming Era: Emerging Patterns and Questions for Further Research References Part I: Policy Chapter 1: Policy and Regulation of Global SVOD Platforms in France The Regulatory Framework of the French Film Industry The Ambition – And Limits of – The French Policy Response Tax Obligations: A First Step Towards the Integration of Global SVOD Platforms The French Transposition of the Revised AVMSD Regulating Content Availability and Exposure: The 30% Quota and Algorithms Financing Obligations: Windfalls and Increased Competition Conclusion References Chapter 2: New Directive, Old Principles: EU Film Policy, Small National Cinemas and the Case of Portugal Framing the New AVMSD Portugal’s New Cinema Law Key and Ongoing Issues in European Film Policy References Chapter 3: Policies for Independent UK Film in Europe Post-Brexit ‘Do Not Get Confused’: European Supra-National Governance Defining ‘British’ Film: UK Legislation and ‘the Cultural Test’ ECTT, AVMSD and European Cultural Works ECTT AVMSD Conclusion References Chapter 4: The End of European Co-production? Independent Producers and Global Platforms The Policy-Driven European Co-production: Protectionism and Independence Platform-Driven Collaborations: Talking to the American F(r)iends The Old-World Strikes Back with Binding Obligations Mapping a Mess: The Outcomes of the European Policy Regulating Collaboration with Streaming Platforms What to Conclude? References Part II: Platforms Chapter 5: Theatrical Distribution or Online Streaming? Release Strategies in Europe in Times of Disruption and Change Release Strategies and Exhibition Windows Releasing Hollywood Studio Films in Europe During COVID-19 Releasing Independent Films in Europe During COVID-19 Virtual Cinema Platforms Conclusion: A Turning Point? References Chapter 6: Global SVOD Services in Spain: The Availability and Prominence of Spanish Films and Other Audiovisual Works Circulation, VOD Catalogues and Regulations in Spain Methodology The Availability and Characteristics of Spanish Films and Other Audiovisual Works The Prominence of Spanish Works Final Remarks References Databases Consulted Chapter 7: Recommendation Logics and Exposure Diversity: Researching the European VOD Experience Nightmares of Black Boxes and Filter Bubbles (Longitudinal) Data Collection Empirical Audience Research and Experimental Studies Conclusions References Chapter 8: Promoting Films in Cinemas and on Streaming Platforms: Cinema Events in Czechia Events, Eventisation, and Film Distribution The Eventisation of Theatrical Cinema Distribution Online Events During the Pandemic AeroVOD and Edisonline Conclusion References Chapter 9: Cinephile Culture on Online Platforms in France: Rethinking the Process of Cultural Mediation From Traditional Cinephilia to Online Cinephilia in France Cinephile Platform Catalogues and Interfaces Reintroducing Educational Resources Horizontal Education: The Missing Link of Cinephile Mediation? Conclusion References Part III: Production Chapter 10: Producers and Industrial Change: Morena Films and Spanish Cinema in the Streaming Era Morena Films: Spanish Independent Production Before and After the Arrival of the Platforms Netflix and Morena I: Diablero and the Turn to Drama Series Morena and Netflix II: Producing Netflix ‘Original’ Films Morena, Amazon Prime Video and Spanish Cinema Series Productions for Other Platforms The Persistence of the Independent Film Model Conclusions: Producers and Spanish and European Cinema Historiography References Chapter 11: SVOD Production in East-Central Europe: Understanding the ‘Streamer Imaginaries’ of Independent Producers SVOD Production, Public Funds, and Independent Producers in East-Central Europe What SVOD Production Research Can Learn from Platform(isation) Studies A Case Study: Czech Producers Imagining Their Business with Netflix Conclusion: Localising Streamer Dependency References Chapter 12: Casual Films Inside a Bigger Strategy: Investigating the Film Production Agreement Between Mediaset and Netflix The Announcements and Beyond. The Netflix–Mediaset Movie Pact Consolidated Genres: Exploring the Films from the Netflix–Mediaset Pact Conclusions: A Partial Success, and a Way to Understand Global Platform Localisation in Europe References Chapter 13: From Undercover to Ferry: SVOD Franchise Development in Small European Audiovisual Markets The Audiovisual Industries in the Low Countries Netflix in the Low Countries ‘It’s All About IP!’ Netflix and Building Universes and Franchises The Case of Undercover Ferry and the Production of a Local Netflix Streaming Universe Concluding Remarks Appendix References Chapter 14: Netflix Original Films and European Auteur Cinema: ‘Universal’ Particularities in Alexandre Aja’s Oxygen Introduction: Alexandre Aja and Netflix National and European Identity in Oxygen A European Film for Global Audiences? Conclusion: Oxygen as Platform ‘Original’ and European Cinema References Index This collection examines the impact of streaming platforms on European cinema. It is structured from three distinct points-of-view: the policy issues related to streaming platforms, equally at the European level and in individual countries; the impact of platforms on the circulation of European films, including some of the global players, multi-national and single-nation platforms operating in Europe; and the production activities of the platforms in the form of specific ‘original'films. By bringing together scholars working on various national cinemas, including those of France, Spain, Britain and other countries, this collection illuminates the many ways in which the European film industry is responding to the digital revolution.Chapter 5 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.