Directors' organisations issue joint rights declaration

An international meeting of directors' organisations has issued a joint rights declaration.
At the meeting, held in Dublin, Ireland, the seven organisations also agreed to form a new affiliate organisation to advance and protect the rights of directors.
In their third annual meeting, representatives of the directors' organisations of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom (BECTU and the Directors' Guild of Great Britain) and the United States agreed to a Code of Practice, which affirms the role of the director as the primary creator of audiovisual works.
In addition, the organisations agreed in principle to form an affiliation to be known as the International Association of English Speaking Directors' Organisations, which will promote and protect the mutual interest of film and television directors.
BECTU Assistant General Secretary Martin Spence said: "This is a major step forward in the effort to protect the creative and economic rights of directors throughout the world and we welcome it wholeheartedly".
The declaration can be viewed at http://www.bectu.co.uk.
(GB)