With a record-breaking attendance of audiovisual authors’ societies from around the world, the annual assemblies of the Federation of Latin American Audiovisual Authors’ Societies (FESAAL) and the International Confederation of Audiovisual Authors (AVACI).
The AVACI assembly took place on November 6 and 7, following FESAAL's assembly on November 5. The event was hosted by the Mexican Society of Directors and Audiovisual Works Realizers (SOMEDIRE - Mexico), one of Latin America’s oldest societies, founded in 1963, and led by director Gilberto de Anda, alongside the General Society of Mexican Writers (SOGEM - Mexico), chaired by screenwriter Manuel Rodríguez Ajenjo, President of its Board of Directors.
Audiovisual Transformation Process
Both assemblies were framed within a deep transformation process led by FESAAL, involving most of its Latin American societies. This included statutory reforms positioning audiovisual authors, screenwriters, and directors at the forefront of leadership, strategic planning, and future goals for AVACI. These congresses were considered pivotal in strengthening the defense of audiovisual authors’ rights in Latin America and beyond.
The FESAAL Congress was inaugurated by Miguel Ángel Diani, film screenwriter and President of ARGENTORES - Argentina, one of the oldest playwright and screenwriter societies in Latin America, approaching its 115th anniversary. Diani emphasized the need to focus in 2025 on supporting countries like Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru to ensure that all Latin American filmmakers have salaries and robust entities advocating for them.
Next, Manuel Rodríguez Ajenjo, the newly appointed President of SOGEM, highlighted operational challenges arising from the organization’s reliance on author’s rights revenue instead of membership fees. This has led to confusion about SOGEM being mistaken for a union. Furthermore, he noted that Mexican authors lack social security due to restrictive legislation.
"Recognition and remuneration through author’s rights are not gifts—they are achievements," underscored José Antonio Medina Hernández, SOMEDIRE's Vice President, during his formal inauguration of the FESAAL Congress.
The meeting aimed to enhance mutual support among member organizations, encourage the establishment of management societies in countries lacking them, and promote fair remuneration and efficient distribution of author’s rights royalties.
Notable attendees at the FESAAL Congress included Daniella Castagno, President of ATN - Society of Audiovisual Directors, Screenwriters, and Playwrights- Chile; directors Carmen Guarini and Inés de Oliveira Cézar DAC - Argentine Film Directors - Argentina; Daniel Di Napoli, Director of the AVSYS System; author’s rights lawyer Luis Mangiavillano (DAC); Colombian directors Teresa Saldarriaga, Camila Loboguerrero, and Yuldor Gutiérrez, alongside author’s rights lawyer Adriana Saldarriaga (DASC - Audiovisual Directors Society of Colombia - Colombia); screenwriter Alexandra Cardona Restrepo (REDES - Colombian Network of Audiovisual Writers - Colombia); Alexis Buenseñor and Eduardo de Freitas, President and Director General of AGADU - General Association of Authors of Uruguay - Uruguay; Uruguayan director Marcela Matta (DGU - Directors, Female Directors, and Screenwriters of Uruguay - Uruguay); Panamanian directors Ricardo Aguilar and Luis Romero (EDAP - Association of Writers, Screenwriters, Playwrights, and Audiovisual Directors of Panama - Panama); Peruvian director Franco García (DACAP - Associated Audiovisual and Film Directors of Peru - Peru); Paraguayan director Claudia Zárate and lawyer Vanella Barbieri CREADORES PY - Collective Management Organization for Audiovisual Authors of Paraguay - Paraguay); Brazilian directors Henrique de Freitas Lima and Malu de Martino (DBCA - Society of Brazilian Filmmakers and Audiovisual Directors - Brazil); screenwriters Sylvia Palma and Thiago Dottori (GEDAR - Management of Screenwriters' Rights - Brazil); Ecuadorian directors Manuel Sarmiento Torres and Yanara Guayasamín (ADG - Assocation of Directors and Screenwriters - Ecuador); Gloria López, general director of SOGEM and Heloísa Guzzi Campos, representing The Ministery of Culture of Brazil and Ignacio Martínez on behalf of the Council of Author’s Rights of Uruguay. The session concluded with the proposal of provisional authorities from other continents to join the AVACI Executive Council, with the following nominations: President: Miguel Ángel Diani (ARGENTORES); Vice President: Daniella Castagno (ATN); Second Vice President: Yoon Jung Lee (DGK - Directors Guild of Korea - South Korea); Secretary General: Horacio Maldonado (DAC); Executive Council Members: Danilo Serbedzija (DHFA Association of Croatian Film Authors and Producers - Croatia); Laza Razanajatovo (APASER - Pan-African Alliance of Screenwriters and Directors); Anjum Rajabali (SRAI - Screenwriters' Rights Association of India - India); and Malu de Martino (DBCA).
AVACI: Proposals Amid Technological Advancements
Following the FESAAL Congress, AVACI’s assembly took place on November 6 and 7, as the organization worked on statutes for its legal registration.
The confederation’s influence extends beyond Latin America. Recent years have seen legislative reforms in various countries and the promotion of management societies in emerging territories.
As stated by Marcelo Piñeyro (DAC), director and Honorary President of AVACI:"AVACI is working with other regional organizations and WIPO to recommend global laws ensuring remuneration for public screenings. These laws already exist in Italy, Poland, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Colombia." The Congress also addressed issues such as streaming rights and artificial intelligence (AI).
The President of Directors of Colombia (DASC), Teresa Saldarriaga, stated during her presentation: “One of our concerns is the reduction in work. Technology, the way audiovisual content is consumed, and the world itself are changing at an incredible pace, and we rely on that for our livelihood. As a collective management society, as FESAAL and AVACI, we should establish an analysis department to determine where this is heading. If production stops, how will creators make a living? Colombia has 12 laws on AI, but none addressing how to regulate it. AI will always copy us.”
The second day of the AVACI Congress featured a presentation by filmmaker and developer Christoph Behl, who has successfully intertwined traditional cinematic storytelling with the potential of AI-based tools. His work has sparked a fascinating debate on authorship, rights, and the future of cinema. Behl delivered a lecture on “The Impact of New Technologies – such as AI – on the Profession of Screenwriters and Directors.”
Audiovisual authors from around the world, authorities, and guests
Representatives from their respective entities participated in the AVACI Congress held on November 6 and 7:
ADG - Association of Directors and Screenwriters: Manuel Sarmiento - Promoter / Yanara Guayasamin - Promoter
APASER - Pan-African Alliance of Screenwriters and Filmmakers: Laza Razanajatovo - President / Giuliana Fantoni - Coordinator
ARGENTORES - General Society of Authors of Argentina: Miguel Ángel Diani - President / María Laura Garateche - Head of International Relations
ATN - Society of Audiovisual Directors, Screenwriters, and Playwrights of Chile: Daniela Castagno - President / César Cuadra - General Director
AzDG - Guild of Professional Film Directors of Azerbaijan: Shahira Tajaddin - CEO
CREADORES PY - Management Entity of Audiovisual Authors of Paraguay: Claudia Zárate - Secretary and Treasurer / Dr. Vanella Barbieri - Legal Advisor
DAC - Argentine Film Directors: Carmen Guarini - Vice President / Victor Dinenzon - Treasurer / Marcelo Pineyro - Deputy Secretary of Social Action / Inés de Oliveira Cezar - Deputy Secretary / Dr. Luis Mangiavillano - Executive Director / Lic. Daniel Di Napoli - General Director of Systems
DASC - Colombian Audiovisual Directors Society: Teresa Saldarriaga - President / Camila Loboguerrero - Vice President / Gilberto Valderrama - Treasurer and Member / Yuldor Gutierrez - General Secretary / Dr. Adriana Saldarriaga - Legal Advisor
DBCA - Brazilian Film and Audiovisual Directors: Henrique de Freitas Lima - President / Malu de Martino - Vice President
DGK - Directors Guild of Korea: Yoon Jung Lee - Head of the Author's Rights Committee / Hyoeun Park - Member of the International Department
DGU - Directors and Screenwriters of Uruguay: Marcela Matta - Board Member
DHFA - Association of Croatian Film Authors and Producers: Danilo Serbedzija - President / Danko Stefanovic - Associate Manager of Business Affairs
EDAP - Writers, Screenwriters, Playwrights, and Audiovisual Directors of Panama: Ricardo Aguilar - President / Luis Romero - General Secretary
GEDAR - Management of Rights for Screenwriters, Brazil: Thiago Dottori - President / Sylvia Palma - Advisory Board Member
REDES - Colombian Network of Audiovisual Writers: Alexandra Cardona Restrepo - President / Carlos Gaviria - Vice President / Yuri Alvarado - Director of Work Declaration and Distribution
SGAE - General Society of Authors and Editors: Antonio Onetti - President
SOGEM - General Society of Writers of Mexico: Manuel Ajenjo - President / Gloria López - General Director
SOMEDIRE - Mexican Society of Directors of Audiovisual Works: José Antonio Medina Hernández - Vice President / Iván Orellana Mejía - Head of Data Analysis / Guillermo Solorzano Leilo - Legal Advisor / Raúl de Anda Sánchez - Heirs Member
SRAI - Screenwriters' Rights Association of India: Anjum Rajabali - President / Vinod Ranganath - CEO
M RIGHTS - Society for the Management and Protection of Authors' Rights in Italy: Gianluigi Chidaroli - CEO and President / Giovanna Burani - Head of International Relations
Directors UK: Andy Harrower - Executive Director
OMPI - World Intellectual Property Organization: Sylvie Forbin - Deputy Director General
SAA - Society of Audiovisual Authors: Barbara Hayes - President
ALCS - Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society: Federica Fiorillo - Manager of International Rights and Policies
Guest Directors:
Italia: Bruno Oliviero
Finland: Ada Emilia Johnsson
Germany: Christoph Behl
Germany: Irene Von Alberti
Guest Authorities:
Brazil - Heloisa Guzzi Campos - Legislative Analysis Coordinator at the Secretariat of Author's Rights and Intellectual Property of Brazil
Uruguay - Ignacio Martínez - President of the Author's Rights Council of Uruguay
Komentarze