Artificial, not substantial, the crisis at EKKOMED, says the Hellenic Directors’ Guild after the Variety article

A recent article in Variety highlighted significant payment delays affecting international productions managed by EKKOMED (Hellenic Center for Cinema, Audiovisual Media and Creation – Creative Greece), raising concerns within the global film community, especially during the Cannes Film Festival.

In light of this unfavorable coverage, the Hellenic Directors’ Guild (HDG) released a statement labeling the situation as “artificial.” They aim to enhance the reputation of Greek audiovisual production and support Greek institutional bodies. The statement emphasizes the necessity for EKKOMED to fulfill its official mission with transparency and meritocracy, backed by ongoing state support.

Notably, after the Variety report, EKKOMED also issued a statement a few days later.

The matter of Greece’s financial credibility in the audiovisual industry is critical, as the country has been positioning itself as an appealing destination for international film and TV projects through initiatives like the cash rebate program and other government incentives.

Full Statement:

Following the recent Variety article and its coverage by several Greek media, the Hellenic Directors’ Guild feels compelled to express its stance:

For decades—especially since the 2010 economic crisis—the audiovisual sector and its creators have faced significant challenges, as the Hellenic Film Center (HFC) struggled to support them due to limited state funding.

The establishment of EKOME in 2017, which recently merged with HFC to form a unified organization—EKKOMED—was a positive legislative step, supported by the HDG, highlighting the need to move past historical inefficiencies. The current leadership possesses both industry experience and public administration expertise, ensuring balanced management of the new entity.

While such a merger is necessary, it is also operationally complex and time-consuming. Nevertheless, funding approvals are being processed, financial support is increasing, European accolades are being awarded in Athens, and the budget of the new organization has significantly grown compared to the previous modest funding levels of the HFC.

We believe the recent coverage depicts an artificial crisis, not the true operational status of the new organization, which is already addressing a considerable portion of prior debts. We assert that EKKOMED should be allowed to function effectively with transparency, merit, and consistent support from the state.

EKKOMED represents the sole hope for both experienced and emerging creators in a complex audiovisual environment, locally and internationally. Serious and responsible support from all members of the Greek film industry is crucial.