What We Do

According to the European Commission, the audiovisual and film sector contributes 2.6% of the region’s GDP and supports 5.8 million jobs. The same pattern of contribution is true all across the globe because creators are the “engine room” for the industry. In addition, people in all regions benefit directly from the rich culture and diversity that dramatic, literary and audiovisual authors bring to their lives.

Writers & Directors Worldwide works to protect the rights of these creators.

This fight is especially important because in reality, blockbuster writers and directors make up only a tiny percentage of the creators working in the industry. The vast majority of us are independent individuals that need to live from our work. But with the unpredictability of the industry and the need for long periods of research and writing between projects, this flow of income is neither constant nor assured.

For the next generation of creators and for those struggling to launch new projects, this challenge is even greater. Our livelihoods and thus our ability to continue creating, depend upon receiving equitable payment for the use of our work.

Writers & Directors Worldwide leverages its small team to make a large amount of noise on behalf of creators around the world.

In the past 18 months for example, we rallied behind Australian authors in their battle with the national government for fair remuneration and met with the China Film Copyright Association to sign a memorandum of understanding. In Colombia, we supported the “Pepe Sanchez Act” in favour of audiovisual creator’s rights as it unanimously passed its first reading in the House of Representatives.

We also added our voice to the European Parliament’s call for expert input on its evaluation of the current EU copyright rules and saw the president of Chile publicly sign the bill we co-promoted to give directors and screenwriters inalienable right to remuneration.