The promotion and visibility of European content undoubtedly plays a key role in ensuring a sustainable and competitive industry. Policy makers, film professionals, funders and promoters, both young talents and well established representatives of the audiovisual industry, will address topics such as:
- How to build sustainable businesses models through promotion?
- How to help the content travel beyond borders while preserving cultural diversity and identity?
- How to nurture the new generation of filmmakers and help them build a 'career ladder’ from the earliest stages of development?
Liana Ruokytė-Jonsson, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, and Antanas Guoga, Member of the European Parliament will open the event, followed by a keynote speech by Lucia Recalde, Head of the “Audiovisual Industry and Media Support Programmes” Unit from European Commission.
After a presentation by Martin Blaney (Screen international) assessing the current state of cinema in the region in terms of audiences, market and industry, a first panel will discuss "How films from smaller scale markets can make an impact at home and abroad". The second panel will look at "Roadmaps to success: new directions in talent development" and will be preceded by a keynote speech on "New trends in finding audiences for European films" by Joanna Solecka, Alphapanda from Poland.
The panels will be moderated by Michael Gubbins (Sampomedia) and will feature: Aitziber Atorrasagasti (Director for the Promotion of Culture, the Basque Government), Edith Sepp (CEO, Estonian Film Institute), Julie-Jeanne Régnault (Head of European Affairs, CNC ), Markéta Hodouskova (Industry Expert), Arben Zharku (Director, Kosova Cinematography Center), Karolis Kaupins (Film Director), Tereza Nvotová (Film Director), Erwin M. Schmidt (Propellor Film Tech Hub), Kristina Trapp (CEO, European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs) and Fernando Vasquez (Artistic Director, FES New Directors Film Festival).
The full programme is available for more details. The event can be followed via live streaming here.
The European Film Forum is organised during the festival’s film industry event "Meeting Point Vilnius" opening today on 4th April. The first day of the industry event also feature a panel on "How to nurture your skills and build your network" with training representatives of initiatives supported by MEDIA, e.g. School of Film Agents (SOFA), scenario development MIDPOINT courses, "Developing Your Film Festival” training or “Art Departament Masterclass”. Read more details.
MEDIA-supported films at Vilnius Film Festival
As part of the Vilnius Film festival, seven films supported by MEDIA are taking part in the Competition Programme.
- Câini (Dogs) by Bogdan Mirică (Romania, France, Bulgaria, Qatar)
- Slava (Glory) by Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanov (Bulgaria, Greece)
- Teesklejad (Pretenders) by Vallo Toomla (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia)
- Ostatnia rodzina (The Last Family) by Jan P. Matuszyński (Poland)
- Ema (Mother) by Kadri Kõusaar (Estonia)
- Die Blumen von gestern (The Bloom of Yesterday) by Chris Kraus (Germany, Austria, France)
- Pokot (Spoor) by Agnieszka Holland (Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Slovakia)
In addition 36 films, also supported by MEDIA programme, are screened during the festival in different sections. ELLE by Paul Verhoeven (France, Germany & Belgium) opened the Festival.
- Le secret de la chambre noire (Daguerrotype) by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (France, Japan, Belgium)
- Tschick (Goodbye Berlin) by Fatih Akin (Germany)
- Bacalaureat (Graduation) by Cristian Mungiu (Romania, France, Belgium)
- Nocturama by Bertrand Bonello (France, Germany, Belgium)
- Safari by Ulrich Seidl (Austria & Denmark)
- Sieranevada by Cristi Puiu (Romania, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)
- Toivon tuolla puolen (The Other Side of Hope) by Aki Kaurismäki (Finland, Germany)
- Grave (Raw) by Julia Ducournau (France)
- Lady Macbeth by William Oldroyd (UK)
- Mimosas by Oliver Laxe (Spain, France, Morocco, Qatar)
- Inimi cicatrizate (Scarred Hearts) by Radu Jude (Romania, Germany)
- Rester vertical (Staying Vertical) by Alain Guiraudie (France)
- Fixeur (The Fixer) by Adrian Sitaru (Romania, France & Germany)
- La Tortue Rouge (The Red Turtle) by Michael Dudok de Wit (France, Japan & Belgium)
- Porto by Gabe Klinger (Portugal, USA, France, Poland)
- Wolf and Sheep by Shahrbanoo Sadat (Denmark, Sweden, France, Afghanistan)
- La Danseuse (The Dancer) by Stéphanie Di Giusto (France)
- Ana, mon amour by Călin Peter Netzer (Romania, Germany & France)
- Félicité (Felicity) by Alain Gomis (France, Senegal, Belgium, Germany & Lebanon)
- Médicin de campagne (Irreplaceable) by Thomas Lilti (France)
- Layla M. by Mijke de Jong (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany & Jordan)
- Que Dios nos perdone (May God Save Us) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen (Spain)
- Chemi bednieri ojakhi (My Happy Family) by Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß (Georgia, Germany & France)
- Orpheline (Orphan) by Arnaud Des Pallières (France)
- Vor der Morgenröte - Stefan Zweig in Amerika (Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe) by Maria Schrader (Germany & France)
- Dancer by Steven Cantor (UK, Russia, Ukraine & USA)
- Liberation Day by Morten Traavik & Uģis Olte (Latvia, Norway, Slovenia)
- Paris pieds nus (Lost in Paris) by Fiona Gordon & Dominique Abel (Belgium & France)
- Perfetti Sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers) by Paolo Genovese (Italy)
- Houston, We Have a Problem! By Žiga Virc (Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Czech Republic & Qatar)
RETROSPECTIVE: ABBAS KIAROSTAMI
- Copie Conforme (Certified Copy) by Abbas Kiarostami (France, Italy, Iran & Belgium)
- Mannen som kunne 75 språk (The Man Who Knew 75 Languages) by Anne Magnussen & Paweł Dębski (Norway, Lithuania, Poland)
CULINARY FILMS
- Bugs by Andreas Johnsen (Denmark, Netherlands, France, Germany)
EUREKA
- Amateurs in Space by Max Kestner (Denmark)
- Ma Vie de Courgette (My Life as a Courgette) by Claude Barras (Switzerland, France)
These films received over EUR 2.6 mil support from the Creative Europe MEDIA programme for film development, distribution outside their home country or TV programming.
Related Links
Vilnius Film Festival “Kino Pavasaris”
About Creative Europe MEDIA
The MEDIA Sub-programme of Creative Europe is designed to support European film and other audiovisual industries. It provides funding for the development, promotion and distribution of European works within Europe and beyond. It invests in the training of producers, film distributors, directors, and screenwriters to help them adapt to new technologies. Each year, MEDIA supports around 2,000 European projects including films, TV series, video games, training programmes, cinemas and much more.