{"id":3324,"date":"2025-11-21T13:47:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T13:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/?p=3324"},"modified":"2025-11-21T13:47:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T13:47:02","slug":"lights-camera-action-europes-film-industry-wins-audiences-with-storytelling-and-social-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3324\/lights-camera-action-europes-film-industry-wins-audiences-with-storytelling-and-social-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Lights, camera, action: Europe\u2019s film industry wins audiences with storytelling and social reality"},"content":{"rendered":"

EU-funded researchers are exploring how Europe\u2019s film industry is taking a different path from Hollywood, focusing on cultural diversity, collaboration and storytelling to boost global competitiveness and cultural influence.<\/p>\n

By<\/em> Ali Jones<\/p>\n

In March 2025, a low-budget independent animation made history by becoming the first Latvian film to win an Oscar.\u00a0Flow<\/em>\u00a0took home the award for Best Animated Feature, beating Hollywood giants Disney and DreamWorks.<\/p>\n

Co-produced across several European countries on a fraction of a typical Hollywood budget, the film delivered a powerful message about solidarity and acceptance.<\/p>\n

For Professor Katharine Sarikakis from the University of Vienna\u2019s Media Governance and Industries Research Lab in Austria, these are precisely the qualities that define the identity of European cinema \u2013 and its greatest strengths.<\/p>\n

Identifying strengths and weaknesses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sarikakis is leading a 3-year EU-funded research initiative called REBOOT that will conclude in January 2026.<\/p>\n

The REBOOT team brings together researchers from 11 universities based in 9 EU Member States and T\u00fcrkiye. They are analysing the challenges facing Europe\u2019s film sector and the support it needs to thrive.<\/p>\n

Part of this is clearly identifying the main strengths and weaknesses of the European film industry and analysing audience preferences.<\/p>\n

Worth over \u20ac120 billion according to the European Audiovisual Observatory\u2019s Key Trends 2025 report<\/a>, Europe\u2019s film industry is the third largest in the world, a cultural powerhouse as well as a key economic sector.<\/p>\n

On paper, Hollywood still dominates the global film industry by producing more films, drawing the biggest crowds and earning the highest box office returns. Yet, according to the REBOOT researchers, these numbers do not tell the whole story. Professor\u00a0Antonios Vlassis, political scientist at the University of Li\u00e8ge, Belgium, said that while financial returns matter, they are not the only measure of success.<\/p>\n

\u201cFilm professionals in Europe consistently tell us that other fundamental criteria \u2013 cultural diversity, collaboration, public support and artistic freedom \u2013 are core to the identity and strength of the European film industry.\u201d Vlassis warned against trying to replicate the Hollywood model, arguing that doing so could undermine the cultural, political and social foundations that make European cinema so distinctive.<\/p>\n

A cultural and geopolitical asset<\/strong><\/p>\n

The REBOOT researchers describe the European film industry as a geopolitical and cultural asset. It plays a vital role: from shedding light on the lives of minority communities and building connections across borders to shaping international relations in Europe and beyond.<\/p>\n

Sarikakis stressed that the film industry is more than just art or entertainment.<\/p>\n

\u201cEuropean film fosters identity, a sense of shared future and solidarity among nations and cultures, especially in the politically difficult times we\u2019re living in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFilm tells the stories that humans share about each other, shaping cultures and values. It speaks to tolerance, coexistence, human rights and democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The European Film Awards in Seville, Spain, on 18 November, continued this tradition of celebrating diversity and identity in European cinema and strengthening its place on the global stage.<\/p>\n

Industry in flux<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the\u00a0European Audiovisual Observatory<\/a>, 2024 saw a record\u00a02\u00a0514 feature films\u00a0produced in the EU \u2013 about 7 new films every day. European works accounted for around one-third of EU cinema admissions.<\/p>\n

However, the rise of global streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ is challenging traditional models of film production and distribution.<\/p>\n

Despite this, REBOOT\u2019s surveys show that European film professionals are not seeking to create a single pan-European streaming platform to compete with US giants. Instead, they are exploring ways to preserve Europe\u2019s diversity and creative independence.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlobal streaming platforms have become direct and influential players in Europe\u2019s film industry,\u201d said Vlassis. \u201cThey use audience data to decide what to produce and promote, but most European producers lack access to that information. This weakens their bargaining power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professionals are therefore calling for\u00a0greater data transparency, European content quotas, and\u00a0investment obligations\u00a0from global platforms.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, traditional\u00a0cross-border co-productions\u00a0remain the cornerstone of European filmmaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cFilmmakers see co-production as an economic necessity, for pooling financial resources and fostering creative exchanges, but also as a strategic asset for expanding distribution opportunities and professional networks in Europe and abroad,\u201d said Vlassis.<\/p>\n

For the researchers, film is part of the EU\u2019s strategic soft power, contributing to its cultural diplomacy and global influence.<\/p>\n

Inspiring the next generation<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, understanding how younger audiences engage with European cinema \u2013 and what draws them to cinemas despite competing entertainment options \u2013 is essential to addressing these industry pressures.<\/p>\n

REBOOT\u2019s survey involving 4\u00a0000 young people revealed that despite the lure of streaming, the big screen still holds its magic.<\/p>\n

\u201cCinema has a unique appeal,\u201d said an 18-year-old respondent from Italy. \u201cThe giant screen and sound create an atmosphere that can\u2019t be replicated at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, REBOOT researchers presented early findings on how young audiences engage with European film.<\/p>\n

Their recommendations included improving the quality of dubbing, lowering ticket prices and making European films more accessible for younger audiences.<\/p>\n

They also highlighted the need to\u00a0nurture young creators.<\/p>\n

Many young Europeans already make and edit videos on their phones, but struggle to enter professional networks \u2013 a loss of fresh ideas that could revitalise the industry.<\/p>\n

Bureaucratic grant systems, they warned, often make it difficult for newcomers to get early-stage projects off the ground. This means the film industry does not get a regular supply of new ideas needed to keep it relevant and attractive for younger audiences.<\/p>\n

At the same time, REBOOT\u2019s findings confirm that while global blockbusters have wide appeal, films rich in storytelling and grounded in social reality \u2013 often key features of European films \u2013 resonate the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cEuropean cinema\u2019s thoughtful, long-lasting nature cuts through,\u201d said Sarikakis. \u201cYoung people bring multilingual lives, global outlooks and creative instincts. Combined with new technology, that creates enormous potential for the future of Europe\u2019s film industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

A reboot for Europe\u2019s film future<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond co-production, the REBOOT team is also exploring how emerging technologies, digital workflows and new forms of independent and youth-led production are reshaping Europe\u2019s creative ecosystem and offering fresh opportunities for collaboration and innovation.<\/p>\n

Crucially, the team aims to redefine what competitiveness means for European cinema. Rather than measuring success solely through market performance, REBOOT considers cultural, artistic and societal impact as central to Europe\u2019s long-term film strategy.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0Flow<\/em>\u00a0showed, stories with heart and meaning can cross borders and captivate audiences worldwide. Rooted in collaboration, creativity and cultural diversity,\u00a0European cinema may well be one of the continent\u2019s most enduring works of art.<\/p>\n

Research in this article was funded by the EU\u2019s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don\u2019t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u200bThis article was originally published\u202fin\u00a0Horizon<\/a>\u00a0the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n

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