Javier Bardem at WIPO on Actors, Film and Digital Technologies

Spanish film star Javier Bardem, Egyptian movie icon Esaad Younis, British film producer Iain Smith and Indian director/producer Bobby Bedi spoke at WIPO on July 19, 2011, about their vision of the evolving film industry and the challenges and opportunities in the digital environment.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry said the visit by these respected film industry figures  – speaking at a Copyright Dialogue on Film for the Geneva diplomatic community – was timely in light of the recent decision by WIPO’s top copyright negotiating committee to move forward with a treaty on the International Protection of Audiovisual Performances to protect actors’ rights. He said the proposed treaty would contribute to a more comprehensive legal framework by including actors' rights - or rights in audiovisual performances - within the international intellectual property regime.

Javier Bardem issued an impassioned appeal to all to respect the rights of actors, saying that piracy of creative content is undermining the development of an industry that is critical to human development.

“It is important for me to be here to recall that remuneration for rights as an actor is crucial.”  Bardem said that, while he was thankful for being part of small minority of actors worldwide who are able to make a living exclusively through acting, he came to WIPO to speak for the rights of the majority who struggled to makes ends meet.