8th Forum of European Minority Regions: Day Two Highlights the Role of Minority Languages in Entertainment and Media

The second day of the 8th Forum of European Minority Regions in Donostia/San Sebastián, Basque Country, hosted by FUEN and LANGUNE, continued to explore the opportunities and challenges of minority languages in the digital age. The discussions centered on economic incentives, the music industry, digitalisation in entertainment, and the role of audiovisuals and media in supporting linguistic diversity.

The day began with a keynote by Itziar Agirre Berriotxoa, Minister for Finance of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, who presented the economic incentives aimed at audiovisual productions created in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa. She emphasised that “culture is an important element for the competitiveness of the Basque Country. We committed to improving the sector’s regulatory framework with two objectives: to strengthen and reinforce the entire value chain and to help achieve financial stability for creators.” Later, Olatz Salvador, a Basque singer-songwriter, shared how the Basque language shapes and inspires the music scene in the region.

One of the day’s key topics was the digitalisation of the entertainment industry, with a focus on video games and interactive media in minority languages. The discussions explored how cultural heritage can be integrated into digital platforms, highlighted challenges in content creation, and emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving innovation. The sessions demonstrated the potential of technology to strengthen minority languages in the gaming sector.

Building on this, the discussions also addressed the role of minority languages in audiovisuals and media. The participants examined advancements in speech recognition and subtitling for multilingual content, the use of digital platforms to promote language learning, and the production of audiovisual materials on social media channels like TikTok that foster a sense of community and cultural pride. The speakers highlighted the economic and cultural benefits of creating media in minority languages while also addressing the challenges of visibility and funding.

The conference ended with summarising reflections by FUEN Vice President Gösta Toft and LANGUNE Director Lohitzune Txarola. Gösta Toft stressed the importance of embracing technology to advance linguistic diversity and called for cross-border collaboration. He reminded the attendees that all languages have equal value and emphasised that linguistic equality is essential for progress. His call to action – “Together we are stronger!” – encouraged the participants to use technology, including AI, to preserve and grow their languages.

Lohitzune Txarola highlighted the dual importance of cultural commitment and economic strategies in safeguarding minority languages. Using the Basque Country as an example, she underlined how a well-prepared industry can support language survival.

The final words of the 8th Forum of European Minority Regions came from Mikel Jauregi Letemendia, Minister of Industry, Energy Transition, and Sustainability of the Basque Government. He emhpasised the competitive advantage of the Basque language, stating: „It strengthens us in the workplace, in processes, and internationally, giving companies a unique identity. The Basque Country aspires to lead Europe in the technological sphere, and language technologies are one of the pathways to achieve this. I want to highlight the work of our local industry because, looking ahead, technology provides an essential opportunity to secure the future of the Basque language.”

The participants were then invited to enjoy an excursion around Donostia/San Sebastián that provided further opportunities for networking and cultural exchange. This fitting conclusion reflected the forum’s main idea of using minority languages to drive innovation and collaboration.

You can watch the recordings of the speeches and presentations of the Forum on YouTube:

• 26. November – Morning Session: Watch recording
• 26. November – Afternoon Session: Watch recording
• 27. November – Morning Session: Watch recording