The Berlin International Film Festival is one of the biggest European film festivals both for the general public and for the industry. As well as being a great cultural event, it also hosts a major European Film Market. Keep reading to find it more about the European Commission’s activities and the EU-supported films nominated at the festival.
Panel discussion: Setting the stage for a thriving ecosystem for European content
- Date: Saturday 17th February 2024 (15h15-16h15)
- Venue: Event Hall at Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation
- Registration not needed, access with European Film Market Badge
- The session will be recorded and available in this page a few days after the event.
At last year’s EFM, the European Commission presented some results of its audience research, the European Media Industry Outlook. The report suggested, tough competition from US and local content notwithstanding, that there was a market opportunity for European content to find audiences across Europe.
The European Commission's session this year will in turn explore to what extent European players, including broadcasters and producers, can take advantage of this. What are the different business strategies European producers, broadcasters and other market players can pursue to create high end series, films and documentaries and successfully market them to European and international audiences? How can they create and exploit IP beyond their core markets and audiences? How can they attract investment to do this?
Following an introduction by the European Commission, a panel of European broadcasters and producers will share their valuable insights.
Agenda:
- Opening speech by Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director General of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission
- Panel discussion moderated by Sten Sauveleer, with:
- Robert Franke, Vice President Drama, ZDF Studios
- Tomáš Hrubý, CEO of Nutprodukce
- Matthieu Zeller, President & CEO of Nwave
- Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance
- Carole Scotta, Founder and President of Haut et Court
- Closing remarks by Sten Saluveer, CEO of Storytek
Creative Europe MEDIA info sessions
Professionals interested in the funding opportunities under Creative Europe programme are invited to join the information sessions organised by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Sessions will take place in the EFM Gropius Conference Lounge and are open without registration and access is possible without accreditation.
- Sunday 18/02 at 9h45: European Film Sales
- Monday 19/02 at 9h30: European Film Distribution
- Monday 19/02 at 11h: European Co-Development
- Monday 19/02 at 15h15: Showcase of Innovative Tools projects supported by MEDIA
Initiatives supported by the European Commission
- ‘Creativity and European Cinema as tools for democracy’ open conference organised by the European Parliament on Saturday 17th February (19:00-20:15).
- Berlinale Co-Production Market: a five-day event for about 500 international producers, sales agents, distributors as well as broadcasting and funding representatives who are active in international co-productions. Supported through the MEDIA 360° grant of € 3.738.375 over 3 years.
- Berlinale Talents: A talent development programme which explores the how and why of movie making. Supported through the above-mentioned MEDIA 360° grant of € 3.738.375 over 3 years.
- Shooting Stars: 10 promising young actors from across Europe have been selected to be part of the Shooting stars, the flagship programme of the European Film Promotion (EFP). Supported by MEDIA among other activities with € 535.437,18€ via the Markets&Networking support-scheme.
EU-supported films shortlisted for awards
Berlinale audiences will be able to enjoy a full program of live screenings and premieres of a wide arrange of films. This year, 15 films supported by the EU will be presented at the festival, some of them in the run-up for the renowned Berlinale prizes like the Golden Bear for best film. The titles below were supported through the Creative Europe MEDIA programme for their development and/or distribution or coproduction.
Competition
- Another End, by Piero Messina (Italy)
- Architecton, by Victor Kossakovsky (Germany, France)
- The Devil’s Bath (Des Teufels Bad), by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala (Austria, Germany)
Berlinale Special
- Iron Box (Treasure), by Julia von Heinz (Germany, France)
Encounters
- Some Rain Must Fall (Kong fang jian li de nv ren), by Qiu Yang (China, USA, France, Singapore)
Panorama
- Andrea Gets a Divorce (Andrea lässt sich scheiden), by Josef Hader (Austria)
- Brief History of a Family (Jia ting jian shi), by Lin Jianjie (China, France, Denmark, Qatar)
- Cu Li Never Cries (Cu Li Không Bao Giờ Khóc), by Lân Phạm Ngọc (Vietnam, Philippines, France, Singapore, Norway)
- I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (Ještě nejsem, kým chci být), by Klára Tasovská (Czeck Republic, Slovakia, Austria)
- No Other Land, by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor (Palestine, Norway)
- Rising Up at Night (Tongo Saa), by Chee Sum Chia (Malaysia, Singapore, France)
Forum
- Maria's Silence (Marijas klusums), by Dāvis Sīmanis (Latvia, Lithuania)
- Reas, by Lola Arias (Argentina, Germany, Switzerland)
- Oasis of Now, Chee Sum Chia (Malaysia, Singapore, France)
Generation
- Fox and Hare Save the Forest (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg)
The winners will be announced on 24 February 2025 at the Award Ceremony.