Will the Entertainment Industry Survive COVID-19?

The pandemic has put film and television production on pause worldwide. The European Union suffered a “69.0% drop in box office numbers in 2020,” which amounted to “€4 billion [in losses] compared to 2019.” The EU implemented the “MEIDA subprogram of Creative Europe,” among other programs, which provided funding “for film and TV projects, cinema networks, film festivals, audience development, training measures for audiovisual professionals, access to markets, distribution, video game development, online distribution, and international co-production funds.” The United States has likewise passed a bill on December 21st, 2020, which includes funding for movie theaters and live venues. This could potentially save “70 percent of small and midsize theaters that would otherwise be forced to close or file for bankruptcy protection.” This bill also provides unemployment benefits for former employees who relied on freelance jobs for extra income. This post was originally published on the Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review website on March 23, 2021. The original post can be accessed via the Archived Link button above