The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union(EU), announced on Friday that it would fund a new EU-ACP support program for cinema and the audiovisual industry under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF).

The aim is to promote the development and structuring of the film and audiovisual industries in the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries, said a press release of the Commission.

The program will last for five years and has a budget of 8 million euros (10.2 million U.S. dollars). The fist call for proposals will be made in 2007.

The program will help to protect cultural diversity, highlight the cultural identities of the ACP countries and promote inter- cultural dialogue.

The contracting authority will be the Secretariat General of the Group of ACP States, based in Brussels.

Source: Xinhua