FESAAL and AVACI Congresses 2024: A Commitment to the Future of Audiovisual Rights Worldwide

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) were held from November 5 to 7, 2024, in Mexico City.

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), 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), 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, 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 (Chile); directors Carmen Guarini and Inés de Oliveira Cézar (DAC); 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); screenwriter Alexandra Cardona Restrepo (REDES); Alexis Buenseñor and Eduardo de Freitas, President and Director General of AGADU; Uruguayan director Marcela Matta (DGU); Panamanian directors Ricardo Aguilar and Luis Romero (EDAP); Peruvian director Franco García (DACAP); Paraguayan director Claudia Zárate and lawyer Vanella Barbieri (CREADORES PY); Brazilian directors Henrique de Freitas Lima and Malu de Martino (DBCA); screenwriters Sylvia Palma and Thiago Dottori (GEDAR); Ecuadorian directors Manuel Sarmiento Torres and Yanara Guayasamín (ADG); Gloria López, general director of SOGEM and Heloíza 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); Secretary General: Horacio Maldonado (DAC); Executive Council Members: Danilo Serbedzija (DHFR); Laza Razanajatovo (APASER); Anjum Rajabali (SRAI); 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 Bell, 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. Bell delivered a lecture on “The Impact of New Technologies – such as AI – on the Profession of Screenwriters and Directors.”

The sessions on November 6 and 7 were attended by representatives of their respective organizations:

• Miguel Ángel Diani (ARGENTORES);
  
• Marcelo Piñeyro (DAC);
  
• Manuel Rodríguez Ajenjo (SOGEM);
  
• Daniella Castagno and César Cuadra from ATN;
  
• Sylvie Forbin (OMPI);
  
• Luis Mangiavillano (DAC);
  
• Laza Razanajatovo (APASER);
  
• Antonio Onetti (SGAE);
  
• Barbara Hayes (SAA);
  
• Yoon Jung Lee (DGK);
  
• Danilo Serbedzija (DHFR);
  
• Vinod Ranganath (SRAI);
• Inés de Oliveira Cézar (DAC);
  
• Alexandra Cardona Restrepo and Víctor Gaviria (REDES);
  
• Camila Loboguerrero and Teresa Saldarriaga (DASC);
  
• Alexis Buenseñor (AGADU);
  
• Marcela Matta (DGU);
  
• Manuel Sarmiento Torres (ADG);
  
• Claudia Zárate (CREADORES PY);
  
• Franco García (DACAP);
  
• Ricardo Aguilar and Luis Romero (EDAP);
  
• Gianluigi Chiodaroli, President and CEO of M. Rights;
  
• Luis Mangiavillano and Daniel Di Napoli (DAC);
  
• Bruno Oliviero (SIAE);
  
• Víctor Dínenzon (DAC);
  
• Henrique de Freitas Lima (DBCA);
  
• José Antonio Medina Hernández (SOMEDIRE);
  
• Andy Harrower (UK Directors);
  
• Raúl de Anda Sánchez (SOMEDIRE);
  
• Gilberto Valderrama (DASC);
  
• Carmen Guarini (DAC);
  
• Heloíza Guzzi Campos (Brazilian Ministry of Culture);
• and guest directors Christoph Behl, Bruno Oliviero, Ada Johnson, and Irene von Alberti.