03/02/2011

A week before the opening of the annual European Film Market in Berlin, Managing Director Beki Probst told us what to expect from the first major film market of the year.

Cineuropa: What is your feeling about the 2011 edition of the European Film Market?
Beki Probst: We still have last-minute bookings from sales companies that picked up new films in Sundance. But based on rumours post-Sundance, and with US studios focusing on sequels, the international film industry seems to be witnessing a renaissance of the independent sector. We will feel this wind of optimism at the European Film Market, where I expect business to be the strongest and most interesting in years. The film industry finally seems to be coming out of the financial crisis.

What are the current figures for attendees and films?
As of [February 2], we have 6,698 participants registered, against 6,450 in 2010, and 723 films screening at the market, against 666 in 2010. In terms of screenings, we have 1007 bookings, against 1014 in 2010, and 558 films will premiere this year, against 517 last year.

So there is no sign of a tightening-up of film production across the globe although fewer films find space on world screens?
Not all films work on screens, and it’s also a good thing to have many films to create a buzz.

What countries have the largest participation and do you have newcomers?
We have new participants from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Namibia and Albania. Otherwise, the strongest territories remain the US/Canada, Europe, in particular the UK. South America seems to be doing better, and we have a strong presence from China.

How do you accommodate the rise in attendees?
Two weeks ago, we had to get extra screening facilities, which isn’t easy as our films have to fight for screening space with the films from the main festival and sidebars. We have allocated five more cinemas from the CineStar Cubix multiplex at Alexanderplatz that was so far dedicated to screenings for the Panorama, Forum, Generation and Berlinale Special. We will organize shuttle buses from our main market centers, the Martin-Gropius-Bau and Marriott Hotel.

How do you also adapt to new film trends, such as the increased demand for documentary and 3D films?
We have again joined forces with the European Documentary Network for the Meet the Docs initiative, which for the first time this year includes “mini doc” screenings in a room at the Marriott Hotel. Regarding technological changes, we started with 16 state-of-the-art screening rooms and can now offer 38 such screening facilities. We also have 3D screening venues at the Astor Film Lounge on Kurfürstendamm and at Potsdamer Platz. We always try to adapt to a constantly shifting marketplace.