Berlin catches up to Cannes (1)
by Annika Pham
As usual, after a very busy first weekend for the 260 sellers and 878 buyers registered, business started to calm down by Tuesday for the market screenings. Overall, however, the 2007 European Film Market (EFM) proved highly dynamic, with many professionals putting Berlin almost on par with Cannes in terms of importance.
“Berlin is very well organised, at the centre of Europe and a key cultural centre”, said veteran Italian sales executive Adriana Chiesa. “The market, run professionally by Beki Probst, has always been key for us. Now that MIFED is gone, it is probably at the same level as Cannes and the right place to promote our European films”.
Pure buying and selling activity was indeed counterbalanced by nonstop production and financial meetings at the Martin Gropius Bau (MGB), Potsdamer Platz Business Offices, Ritz, Hyatt and Marriott hotels.
Even Wild Bunch’s ‘anti-Kosslick’ caravan, built specifically for the occasion and set up between the MGB and Potsdamer Platz, was a hot place to be, proving again that the right products bring right foot traffic and cash inflow.
The new documentary by Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock, on Osama Ben Laden, was one of the most talked about titles around and cemented the trend of documentary as a genre with strong commercial appeal. Spurlock’s film, currently shooting in secrecy, was pre-sold almost everywhere, including to the UK (Optimum Releasing), France (Diaphana), Spain (Alta Films), Germany (Kinowelt) and Scandinavia (Scanbox).
Several other documentaries won over world buyers: Martin Scorsese's upcoming homage to the Rolling Stones on Fortissimo’s slate was snapped up by Kinowelt (Germany), Fox (UK, US and Australia), BIM (Italy), Wild Bunch (France) and Vertigo (Spain).
Katapult Film Sales continued to do business with Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, sold to Germany (Kinowelt), Spain (Circulo) and Italy (Dolmen); BBC Worldwide’s Earth was acquired by Lionsgate (UK, US and Australia), Universum (Germany), Gaumont (France), Wanda (Spain), Frenetic (Switzerland) and Prooptiki (Greece); and Nordisk sold Asger Leth’s Ghost of Cité Soleil notably to the UK (Revolver Entertainment) and the US (ThinkFilm).
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
