Writers Guilds Tackle Cultural Colonialism at Major Indian AGM!

EXCLUSIVE: Next week’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) will take on the subject of “cultural colonialism” experienced by writers in the Global South, sources tell us.

The IAWG’s AGM, hosted in India for the first time, will gather writing guilds from across the globe next week. Key discussions will include equitable pay and residuals, with Anjum Rajabali, a prominent writer and member of the Screenwriters Association (SWA) of India, highlighting the dynamics between the Global South and major entertainment corporations as a central issue.

“It’s more than just an event; it’s a crucial point of international unity,” Rajabali explained. “Writers worldwide share similar challenges such as fair compensation, residuals, creative rights, and protection against exploitation. Unfortunately, multinational studios and streaming services often treat writers from the Global South unfairly compared to their Western peers. This is a modern form of cultural colonialism that we need to challenge.”

The meeting will convene in Mumbai, India’s largest city, where the SWA will host the event from October 6-8.

Confirmed attendees include representatives from the Writers Guild of America (West & East), the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, and the Writers Guild of Canada, along with delegates from guilds across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Africa, and other Asian countries.

Zaman Habib, the General Secretary of the SWA, described the AGM as a “global platform for advocating and protecting writers’ rights.” He added, “From establishing standard contracts to promoting collective bargaining, the IAWG is dedicated to acknowledging screenwriters as the primary creators in the film industry. The SWA fully supports this mission, and our commitment is stronger than ever. Together, we stand united, both nationally and internationally, to underscore the essential role of writers in the narrative process.”

Key agenda items for the AGM include developing international strategies for fair treatment and equitable contracts, exchanging successful tactics from recent guild negotiations like the 2023 U.S. labor strike, and collectively opposing discriminatory actions by producers, studios, and streaming platforms.