Netflix, in partnership with the Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of Argentina, announced the creation of the ‘Relief Fund COVID-19 for the film and audiovisual industry’, aimed at providing financial aid in support of more than a thousand workers in the area. The platform announced the launch of the fund at the beginning of the pandemic, which is currently valued at USD 150 million. Apart from Argentina, other countries that received it in Latin America were Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.

In the case of Argentina, Netflix’s donation will be valued at AR$ 40 million (USD 590 thousand), and will be managed by the Academy to be distributed among the most affected technical staff due to the cancellation of films, series and documentaries audiovisual productions in the country. The initiative will reach workers such as assistants, coordinators, technicians and operators from the different production departments, like cameramans, sound, art, makeup, costumes, locations and others.

To apply to the fund, those interested must complete an application form. Later, an Evaluation Committee, made up of the Academy and the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), will review the applications and decide the beneficiaries in no more than 7 days after the application is submitted. The deadline for submitting applications will start on May 25th and will be extended for two months, or until all the fund resources have been allocated.

‘In times as difficult and uncertain as the ones we are going through, solidarity initiatives like this one, aimed at helping the most affected workers by the pandemic, deserve the recognition of all of ud; and not only of those who, in one way or another, are part of the Argentine cinema and audiovisual sector. From the Film Academy we appreciate the trust provided by Netflix when choosing us to be the institution in charge of channeling these grants to the affected workers, a task that we assume with all the responsibility that the situation demands’, said Bernardo Zupnik, President of the Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of Argentina.

Francisco Ramos, Original Contents VP for Latin America at Netflix, reported that the partnership with the Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of Argentina ‘allows us to help audiovisual industry workers that make productions in Argentina possible, which have been affected by the current situation. It seems essential for us to be present at this time and to demonstrate once again our commitment to the Argentine audiovisual industry, and we thank the Academy for its commitment and help in this initiative’.