Wonka Avant-Premiere: A Magical Night in Brussels

December 5th marked a special night at Flagey in Brussels as we joined forces with Warner Bros. Discovery to host the exclusive Avant-Premiere of Wonka, the eagerly awaited origin tale of the iconic Willy Wonka, a character born by the brilliant imagination of Roald Dahl.

Before the big screen came to life with the magic of Wonka, we were honored to have MEP Sabine Verheyen, Chair of the Culture and Education Committee at the European Parliament, deliver special remarks. Ms Verheyen emphasized the need to support Europe’s audiovisual sector, including the need to preserve the territorial exclusivity of audiovisual content and services by keeping them out of scope of the Geoblocking Regulation, and stressed her dedication and support towards the broader creative sector, which is not only important for society, but also a key economic contributor. Cultural diversity and industrial competitiveness are indeed two sides of the same coin.

Stan McCoy , President and Managing Director of MPA EMEA, recalled a critical upcoming vote on territoriality in the Plenary of the European Parliament, and urged the audience to spread the word via the #Vote4Culture campaign. Stan underscored the commitment of the MPA to foster a policy environment in which the entirety of Europe’s diverse audiovisual sector can thrive.

Lisa McGuirk , Head of EMEA, Government Relations & Public Policy, explored the broader impact of the audiovisual sector on public policy. McGuirk's insights illuminated the intricate relationship between creativity and governance, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the continual growth of a thriving creative ecosystem. She emphasized in particular the importance of media freedom in light of ongoing negotiations on the European Media Freedom Act.

In conclusion, the evening was a celebration not only of a character's origin but also of the timeless influence of storytelling, reaffirming the deep impact and universal allure of the cinematic arts.