Promoting an equal and diverse society is key to the fulfilment of the Council of Europe’s mission: safeguarding human rights, upholding democracy and preserving the rule of law.

In line with the Council of Europe’s policies, Eurimages is committed to promoting equality - including gender equality - diversity, and inclusion in its activities and in the film industry in general.

At its meeting in Lucerne (Switzerland) on 6 December 2024, the Board of Management of Eurimages adopted its first integrated strategy for gender equality, diversity and inclusion (2025-2027).

This decision of the Board reaffirms Eurimages’ commitment to fostering an inclusive, representative, and equitable film landscape. This combined approach seeks to optimise resources, acknowledging the profound synergies and common goals between gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Building on the belief that these values are interconnected and central to creativity and innovation, this strategy aims to ensure that both the film sector and the works on offer reflect society as a whole. 
 

 Strategic objectives

The Board of Management of Eurimages has established a Gender Equality and Diversity Working Group, composed of representatives from several member States of the Fund, that meets three times a year. This Working Group is responsible for the implementation of the strategy whose overarching goal is to reduce inequalities in the film industry, with a particular focus on gender inequality. The aim of the strategy is to promote the role of women both in front of and behind the camera, as well as to advance diversity and inclusion throughout the industry.

To achieve this objective, Eurimages will implement targeted initiatives, drawing on the following operational goals:

  1. Contribute to increasing the presence of women in the industry by:
  1. attracting more female-driven projects;
  2. showcasing their achievements.
  1. Promote diversity and inclusion in the industry by showcasing more inclusive film projects.
  2. Continue raising awareness of various types of inequality across the film industry, with a focus on gender and minority representation. Efforts should address both on-screen and off-screen inclusion, equitable access to resources, and fair peer recognition.
  3. Continue to increase the visibility of the best-practice work and measures carried out by national and international bodies and by Eurimages to promote diversity, inclusion and audience accessibility.
  4. Carry out, where possible, and promote data monitoring, if available, gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and foster the systematic sharing of findings.
  5. Sponsor and offer patronage to initiatives promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion and support research on these subjects.
  6. Mainstream gender, diversity and inclusion across the Fund and across decision-making.