Some 400 films and hundreds of people are swarming into central Berlin from today for the 10th European Film Market (EFM).
Completing its 10th year, and still with its own teeth, the EFM at the 47th Berlin International Film Festival kicks off at the Cine Center, which has been slightly revamped for the 100 companies from 33 countries and more than 1,000 professionals, who will eventually crowd the 53 stands and 14 auditoria.
Three weeks before the opening, market director Beki Probst had 33 requests for screenings, but no more slots. Adding the 110-seater Royal Palast 4 to the 10 studios in the Cine Center, the Kammerspiele A+B and Royal Palast 3, she was able to accommodate almost 400 films in the catalogue. Now the schedule is complete, and on peak days - Sunday to Friday - there are showings for both early birds and night hawks.
'Ten years ago Berlin, Germany and Europe were still divided, and the then Filmmesse was to a certain extent a bridge between the East and the West. We tried to change the accent by renaming it EFM, to emphasise that this was a European market in the heart of Europe. It still is, and will be even more in 2000 when Berlin becomes the capital of Germany.'
Over the years, we have tried to adjust to the political realities, since they will always be reflected in the business.
When the wall fell, the market was all of a sudden flooded with newcomers from the East, but they quickly vanished. Now, with the former state film agencies privatised, and some of the companies consolidated, there is a stable representation from Central Europe, entering an increasing number of productions.
"We have also attempted to pursue trends in the festival, in order to exploit the synergy effect between the Berlinale selection and the EFM programme. If Asia has a strong representation in the festival, it will naturally show in the market. But most of all, we have sought to develop a quality profile," Probst added.
The German film export companies are again performing under the same umbrella, covering one of the prominent stands in the Cine Center, which are also allocated for Focus Germany, American Independents, Meeting Point Italy, Unifrance, Scandinavian Films and the British in Berlin. For the first time a Business Centre, near the entrance, with meeting rooms and office facilities, is available to market participants. Jørn Rossing Jensen
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