Global Audiovisual, Literary and Dramatic Sectors to meet in Algeria for 2018 Writers & Directors Worldwide Annual Congress

Poet, novelist and Algerian Minister of Culture Azzedine Mihoubi as well as Argentinian director and CISAC Vice President Marcelo Piñeyro to deliver opening addresses

Paris, April 13th, 2018 – Attracting approximately 100 attendees from the world of drama, literature and audiovisual, the Writers & Directors Worldwide (W&DW) Annual Congress will unite in Algeria from April 16th-17th, 2018. The congress gathers artists in one location to present how the sectors are performing and upcoming trends around the globe. The meeting will be held, coordinated with and at the invitation of the National Office of Copyright and Related Rights (ONDA), led by Director General and CISAC Board Member Sami Bencheikh El Hocine, prior to the 4th edition of the Salon de la créativité (Creativity Fair) in Algiers.

W&DW is one of the three councils of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which represents over 4 million creators globally. W&DW is presided by Argentinian director, screenwriter and DAC General Secretary Horacio Maldonado.

Professor Ahmed Bedjaoui will present upcoming changes to collective management in Africa. He will discuss the Algerian collective management model and how it will soon be duplicated throughout Africa to improve remuneration for artists.

Literary authors from Latin America, Europe and Africa will participate in an author’s forum. Scriptwriters, screenwriters and directors from Federation of European Film Directors (FERA), Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) and Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) will discuss the role of authors’ organisations. A roundtable will also examine the results of a study on audiovisual remuneration commissioned by CISAC to Professor Raquel Xalabarder of the University of Barcelona. The study focuses on the right to remuneration of audiovisual authors. The right seeks to establish equality and fair pay for screenwriters and directors for the reuse or rebroadcast of their works by broadcasters and distributors.

Creator associations representing specific repertoires and regions of the world, including ADAL (Latin America, audiovisual), APASER (Africa, audiovisual) and PACSA (Africa, music), will also be presenting efforts and activities advancing the livelihoods of creators. These alliances are drivers in bringing artists to the table in global policy debates to highlight progress and underscore key concerns for artists.