Colombian screenwriters and directors are one step closer to having their rights properly recognised today after the “Pepe Sánchez Act” passed its penultimate debate in the First Commission of the Senate of the Republic of Colombia. There now remains only one final debate in the plenary of the Congress of the Republic before this important piece of legislation becomes law.
Following a speech by Senator Horacio Serpa and a presentation of the Act by Mario Mitrotti, president of Directores Audiovisuales Sociedad Colombiana (DASC), the debate passed unanimously by 11 votes to zero. This achievement is a testament to the many years of hard work by DASC and their fellow Colombian authors’ society, Redes – Red Colombiana de Escritores Audiovisuales; by international organisations ADAL, DAC, CISAC, Argentores and Writers & Directors Worldwide; and by Colombian congresswoman Clara Rojas for having obtained the initial approval of this project in the House of Representatives.
The final stage of this process is the debate in the Congress Plenary which will take place in around two weeks. Redes has made a call for support at this debate by issuing an invitation to audiovisual creators and students to join them at the congress and show senators the strength of feeling behind the Act. Applications to join them can be made via their Facebook page or by emailing Redes directly.