19/02/2016 - BERLIN 2016: The European network of regional film funds has backed one in three European Union films selected at the festival

The European network of regional film funds Cine-Regio will present its 2016 Focus Report Building Bridges – Diversity in European film at the 66^th Berlinale, during Cine-Regio yearly strategic meeting, hosted this year at the Thüringer Landesvertretung. 

The report analyses and evaluates current and potential action to improve the diversity of European film. It argues that in order to ensure a flourishing future European film sector there is a need to build bridges between diversity in content creation and diversity in consumption. Effective action on diversity begins by building demand and engagement with audiences. The need for the creation of a framework for discussion about diversity is becoming more and

more important in the European context in general and in particular in European policy making. The topic is therefore part of Cine-Regio’s public affair activities, which is one of the core activities of Cine-Regio – to be the voice and ears of the regional film funds in EU-matters. The network sponsors (Film i Väst, Flanders Audiovisual Fund and Vienna Film Fund) have assured the availability of the report as a free download from the web of CineRegio. 

General secretary Charlotte Appelgren says, “By assessing actions and policies so far, combined with a sharp analysis of the current market situation we have a strong tool for the formulation of effective strategies, which will make a significant impact on diversity.” 

Cine-Regio's commitment to strengthening and promoting cultural diversity is actually on show at this year's Berlin Film Festival, where its members have supported 36% of all EU films. In total 47 titles selected for the official Berlinale programme have been backed by the members of the network of regional film funds, including six of the entrants in this year's Main Competition (Anne Zohra Berrached’s 24 Weeks [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Anne Zohra Berrached
film profile], Vincent Perez’s Alone in Berlin [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Rafi Pitts’ Soy Nero [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rafi Pitts
film profile], Thomas Vinterberg’s The Commune [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Thomas Vinterberg
film profile], Mia Hansen-Love’s Things to Come [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Mia Hansen-Løve
film profile] and Tomasz Wasilewski’s United States of Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tomasz Wasilewski
film profile]), in addition to one title playing Out of Competition (Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern’s Saint Amour [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and two in the Berlinale Special section (Pernilla August’s A Serious Game [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Karin Franz Körlof
film profile] and Sonia Kennenbeck’s National Bird).