Our Greek song is mandatory

Mandatory minimum performance time of Greek-language singing in cinemas and other public spaces is provided for by the provisions of the Culture Ministry's bill to strengthen Greek singing, which was put to consultation on Thursday night. Already causing reactions. In particular, we note that the bill defines a transfer rate of 45% to 70% for shopping centers, hotels, government-sponsored movies.

to the Bill “Preservation and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Preservation and Promotion of Greek-Language Singing and Orchestral Performance of Greek-Language Singing and Preservation and Dissemination of the Greek Language, in the Context of Preservation and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage – Arrangements for Modernizing the Business Policy of the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources and Other Arrangements of the Ministry of Culture “.

He is particularly critical Sappho (Association of Independent Audiovisual Equipment Manufacturers) which speaks to the inappropriate, unreasonable and unconstitutional dimension of the proposed provision.

What does SAPOE support?

In a statement released by SAPOE, it states: In an unprecedented boost to the draft legislation, it published “Measures for the Protection and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Protection and Strengthening of Greek-Language Singing and the Orchestral Performance of Greek-Language Singing”. 29.2. For public consultation in 2024, the Ministry of Culture seeks to impose an outrageous duty on all Greek audiovisual productions and cinematographic films. (eg EKK, ERT, EKOME)”.

And it continues: “In particular, Article 12 of the draft law in question provides the following words: “Greek audiovisual productions and films are financed in any way by the public sector within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Article 14 of Law 4270/ 2014 (A΄ 143), at least seventy percent (70%) of the total musical investment of the production or film must incorporate Greek-language songs or an orchestral performance of a Greek-language song.

The proposed arrangement refers to other periods or social systems where the paternalistic or authoritarian state has a say in artistic creation, assesses the value of intellectual work, and determines its final form. It goes without saying that this article has no place in a modern democratic constitution in the European Union and a member of the Council of Europe like Greece. Article 16 of the Greek Constitution and Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union guarantee artistic freedom, virtually unconditionally. They do not allow for state censorship. Artwork was not intended to serve royal purposes, however legitimate they were. There are other organizations and other ways to promote Greek-language singing that do not directly violate the Constitution and all international texts protecting individual and community rights.

Apart from these, the arrangement betrays complete ignorance of the peculiarities of audiovisual production, the parties involved, the conditions and difficulties in finding finance, the requirements of co-producers and other financiers, the negotiations between the parties, the necessary compromises. as well as a complex organizational structure for various aid mechanisms. It is an organization that promotes the art of Greek audio-visual production and cinematography. It exposes the country internationally as “nowhere else – at least in the so-called 'Western world' – has a similar obligation been established for this sector”.