The first meeting of the Administration Committee of the International Confederation of Audiovisual Authors (AVACI) will take place in the city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from February 6 to 8, 2024. The meeting will actively involve local societies Directors of Colombia (DASC) and the Colombian Writers Network (REDES), who will act as hosts.
The event, to be held at the prestigious Hyatt Hotel in the coastal city, will include participants such as the members of the AVACI Administration Committee and distinguished observers like Bill Anderson, a British director and screenwriter who presides over the Federation of European Film Directors (FERA).
Challenges for 2024
During these sessions, crucial topics for AVACI will be addressed, building upon the positive results from discussions and presentations at the meeting held in Madrid, Spain, in September 2023.
One highlighted aspect will be the planning of the international agenda to be discussed at the Annual AVACI Congress, scheduled for April 23 and 24 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The event will have the local support of the Directors Guild of Croatia DHFR and the Croatian directors' author’s rights management society.
Among the attendees at this first meeting of the AVACI Administration Committee are invited participants: Klemen Dvornik, President of AIPA, Screenwriter and Film Director from Slovenia and current President of AVACI; Yoon Jung Lee, Director from South Korea, Vice President of DGK, and 1st Vice President of AVACI; the representative for Latin America, Horacio Maldonado, Director and Screenwriter, General Secretary of DAC in Argentina and General Secretary of AVACI; and representing the African continent, Laza Razanajatovo, Director and Screenwriter, President of APASER and Institutional Coordinator of AVACI.
Hosting Voices
The hosting societies for this meeting are the Directors of Colombia (DASC), chaired by Director Mario Mitrotti and by Director and Board Member of AVACI Teresa Saldarriaga, and REDES, chaired by Alexandra Cardona Restrepo, both playing prominent roles in the Administration Committee of the International Confederation of Audiovisual Authors, share their perspectives on the meeting in Cartagena de Indias.
"The fact that the Administration Committee is meeting in Colombia is a significant recognition for the country's work in protecting authors' rights and negotiating with users. Colombia has become a global reference in recognizing the right to remuneration, and its experience has served as an example for other countries," says Dr. Adriana Saldarriaga, legal advisor of DASC.
On the other hand, author Alexandra Cardona Restrepo states, "AVACI's presence in Colombia marks a milestone for collective management and the promotion of authors' rights. It is important to disseminate and value the work that AVACI does in dignifying authors and ensuring fair treatment for them."
The AVACI Administration Committee hopes that this meeting will further strengthen international ties, promote collaboration among the various entities within the Confederation, and contribute to the continuous development of the global audiovisual sector.
