European Film Awards at crossroads for 25th anniversary

The European Film Awards turn 25 with their Saturday ceremony. Leo Barraclough of Variety delved into what's keeping them afloat and the evolution of their mission. An excerpt:

... The European Film Academy, which runs the awards, is entirely funded from Germany: the German National Lottery is the main backer, with additional coin coming from the Federal Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs and regional org Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

The awards themselves -- which cost around €2 million ($2.55 million) -- receive funds from a variety of patrons and sponsors, as well as $222,000 from the European Union's Media Program. But not everyone contributes. Although films from the U.K. and France represent more than a third of the nominations at this year's awards, the two countries don't contribute a single euro toward the kudos' costs. The org says its awards' broadcast license fees represent less than 10% of the awards cost. In addition to Europe, the show airs in 25 African and seven Asian countries, plus Australia, and is streamed live online on the Euro Academy's website.

As the EU works on its new budget and seeks to replace the Media Program with cultural org, Creative Europe, it is unclear whether its support will continue, and with state budgets being slashed across Europe, the continued existence of the academy and its awards is in doubt. ...