Gender Equality Plan (GEP)

1. Strategic Commitment

SMP, an independent audiovisual production company based in Hamburg, Germany, is 
committed to fostering gender equality as a core value of its organisational culture and 
creative output.

In alignment with the principles of the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme, the company 
recognises gender equality as a driver of innovation, diversity of perspectives, and 
competitiveness within the European audiovisual industry.

This Gender Equality Plan (GEP) establishes a structured and proportionate framework 
adapted to the size of the company (approx. 10 permanent employees), ensuring both 
feasibility and measurable impact.

2. Scope and Applicability

This GEP applies to:02
• All employees (full-time, part-time, and freelance) 
• Management and ownership level 
• Project-based collaborators (e.g. writers, directors, heads of department) 
It covers both internal organisational practices and project-based audiovisual activities 
(development, production, and distribution).

3. Objectives 

The company commits to the following objectives:
• Achieve and maintain gender balance across teams and leadership roles 
• Ensure equal access to professional opportunities in all company activities 
• Integrate gender equality considerations into content development 
• Promote inclusive and diverse representation on screen and behind the camera 
• Provide a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment 

4. Concrete Measures and Implementation

4.1 Recruitment and Career Development

• Use gender-neutral language in all job and project calls 
• Aim for balanced gender representation in candidate selection processes 
• Ensure transparent and merit-based recruitment decisions 
• Support career progression equally across all genders 
Given the company’s size, recruitment processes remain flexible but guided by these 
principles.

4.2 Gender Balance in Creative Roles (Key Creative Europe Criterion)

For all slate projects and individual productions, the company will:
• Actively seek gender balance in key creative positions (writer, director, producer) 
• Encourage collaboration with female and underrepresented talent 
• Track gender distribution across projects within the slate 
This is particularly relevant for Creative Europe evaluation under content quality and industry 
impact.

4.3 Equal Pay and Working Conditions

• Apply equal pay principles for comparable roles and responsibilities 
• Regularly review remuneration structures at company level 
• Offer flexible working arrangements where operationally feasible 
• Support work-life balance, including parental responsibilities 

4.4 Prevention of Harassment and Safe Working Environment

• Enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment and discrimination 
• Provide a clear and confidential reporting channel (managed by company leadership) 
• Ensure prompt and fair handling of any reported issues 
Due to the small team size, reporting structures remain direct but confidential.

4.5 Awareness and Capacity Building

• Promote awareness of gender equality in internal discussions and project development 
• Encourage participation in industry initiatives, workshops, and training where relevant 
• Integrate gender perspectives into storytelling and character development 

5. Monitoring, Data Collection and Indicators

In proportion to its size, SMP will implement light but effective monitoring:
• Annual internal review of gender distribution (staff and project-based roles) 
• Tracking of gender balance in key creative positions across the slate 
• Qualitative assessment of gender representation in developed content 
Findings will be used to adjust practices and improve outcomes over time.

6. Responsibility and Governance

Overall responsibility for the implementation of this GEP lies with company management.
Given the company’s scale, management ensures:
• Direct oversight of recruitment and project staffing 
• Integration of gender equality objectives into project development decisions 
• Regular internal communication of equality principles 

7. External Communication and Industry Contribution

The company commits to:
• Communicating this GEP internally and making it available upon request 
• Contributing to a more inclusive European audiovisual sector through its projects 
• Supporting industry-wide efforts toward gender equality 

8. Duration and Review

This Gender Equality Plan is valid for a period of four (4) years and will be reviewed 
annually in a proportionate manner.

9. Final Statement

SMP reaffirms its commitment to implementing practical, measurable, and scalable actions to 
promote gender equality, both within the organisation and through its audiovisual works, in 
line with the objectives of the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme.