Campaign BRING'S TO THE LIGHT”: Film industry fights against abuse!

Campaign BRING'S TO THE LIGHT”: Film industry fights against abuse!

On March 29, 2025, the Film and Music Industry Association (FAMA) held a press conference as part of the Diagonale to present the “BRING’S ANS LIGHT” campaign. This initiative aims to combat bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the film and music industries. The panelists, including Claudia Wohlgenannt, Verena Altenberger, Arash T. Riahi and Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu, emphasized the urgency of improving working conditions in the industry and creating a safe environment for all actors and creatives.

The “BRING’S AN LIGHT” campaign is based on a guide that the professional association developed in 2022 against abuse and assault. To disseminate the contents of the guide, a video and a website were created, which are available in German and English at www.bringsanslicht.at. The website offers relevant information and contacts for those affected and focuses on raising awareness among companies and film and music creators.

Discrimination and harassment in the film industry

The need for change in the film industry is underpinned by alarming results from a survey by the Diversity in Film Alliance. Eight out of ten women reported experiencing sexual harassment in the last two years. Over 60 percent of cases of discrimination occurred at the beginning of a project or activity, such as during an audition. People with a migration background, queer filmmakers and people with disabilities are particularly affected. These groups are not only less likely to be employed permanently, but also experience significant differences in earnings.

The survey, which involved over 6,000 filmmakers, found that 51 percent of respondents had experienced discrimination in a work context, with 70 percent of those affected not reporting their experiences. In connection with these findings, Bernhard Franke, acting head of the federal anti-discrimination agency, called for the establishment of clear codes of conduct and effective complaint management systems.

Cultural change and prevention

Panelists at the press briefing emphasized that prevention is the best protection. Claudia Wohlgenannt emphasized the need for a cultural change in order to sustainably improve working conditions. Arash T. Riahi warned that silence allows injustice to grow and emphasized the importance of open communication. Verena Altenberger added how important it is to find a common language to address abuse of power.

The established advice center “Themis” is recognized as a role model for low-threshold and qualified complaint offices. This was founded in the wake of the #metoo movement in 2018 and has since supported a large number of those affected. Your experiences are part of a structural problem that prevails in the German film industry and was also documented in recent surveys.

The results of these studies highlight the overarching need for effective measures to effectively counter discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse of power. The professional association and the supporting initiatives are committed to a respectful and safe working environment in which human dignity and personal boundaries are maintained.

For further information and support, there are resources and contacts on the campaign website.

Taken together, the initiatives and studies show how urgent it is to address the challenges in the film industry and create an inclusive and respectful working environment.

For more details about the campaign and its goals, visit FAMA, Anti-discrimination agency and Themis.