News release Film/AV Production Chain Table and Film Festivals Chain Table: Looking to 2026

Photo: Alex Litvin

In December, the Film Festivals Chain Table and the Film/AV Production Chain Table published the current fair pay toolkit for 2026. This year, participants of both chain tables continue to meet periodically for its annual maintenance.

The Film Festivals Chain Table is also working on additional tools, such as a guideline for (socially) safe and healthy work, and an umbrella document that will safeguard fair pay instruments.

The Chain Table Film/AV Production is also working in focus groups on a guideline for cancellation and a manual with recommendations about liability and insurance of materials. For screenwriters it is being investigated how the fair pay agreements can be translated into a practical tool for negotiating TV productions, with rates linked to minutes. We are also working on an umbrella document as a follow-up to the Letter of Intent Audiovisual Sector, in which the developed tools for film and AV productions will be secured, so that new parties can easily join.

To further support the application of fair pay tools in practice, the new website of Platform ACCT and fairPACCT will soon be launched. Following this, a composite working group with participants from both chain tables is working with fairPACCT to improve communication.

The agenda includes the development of a web-based tool linking all fair pay practice tools for film and AV production, a calculation tool for film festivals, an overview of frequently asked questions, personas and instructional videos on how to apply the tools.

Pilot independent counter for film and AV sector

From the outset, it is intended that the consultation between workers and work providers, and the use of the fair pay tools facilitated at the chain tables within Platform ACCT’s fairPACCT program, be structurally secured within the relevant sub-sectors.

At the start of the Film/AV Production Chain Table, it was already clear that this task is complex and involves the entire supply chain. Many different parties and interests are involved, collective agreements are lacking and the scope covers the entire film production, from head to tail.

Moreover, in order to make fair pay and fair practice the norm, the financial basis of film production must be strengthened. Because audiovisual production is financed per project, this requires commitment from all public and private parties involved in the value chain. In addition, in order to create a level playing field with other countries, broader access to financing is needed, for example through a tax shelter or tax credit. At the same time, further professionalization of the sector requires more knowledge sharing, cooperation and continuity.

Precisely this complexity means that structural assurance does not arise automatically. Without timely preparation, there is a risk that accumulated knowledge, agreements and instruments will be fragmented or inadequately applied. To carefully and realistically shape the transition to sectoral assurance, it is necessary to explore over a defined period of time how consultation, knowledge sharing and support can be sustainably organized.

With support from the Ministry of OCW, a pilot is therefore being conducted in the film and AV sector. This pilot examines how an independent structure can be set up to act as a central point of contact for workers, workers, chain partners and other stakeholders.

The pilot has a duration of about nine months and consists of two phases: an exploration phase focusing on organizational form, legal entity and governance, followed by a pilot phase testing the set-up in practice.

The pilot will be conducted under the banner of the Netherlands Film Festival (NFF). The NFF is responsible for project administration and financial management. Doreen Boonkamp, chair of the Chain Tables Film/AV Production and Film Festivals, is involved as quartermaster. For implementation, she is engaging a secretary, legal advice and communications support. In addition, the chain table working group on communication, implementation and safeguarding (or a delegation thereof) will also be actively involved.

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