The Independent Feature Project Presents 10 Films in Berlin

Now active for 22 years, the Market has become one of the most important showcases of new American Independent talent, drawing hundreds of American and international distributors, programmers and film festival reps. The films were selected by IFP's Executive Director Michelle Byrd and Independent Feature Film Market Director Milton Tabbot to exemplify the diversity of films being produced, with an eye towards films that will "work" in the international marketplace.

Why Don't Euro Films Translate on the American Market?

No one caused more stir at the conference than UniFrance's Alan Vannier, who rocked event with his pronouncement that European filmmakers should give up their national cinema in favor of making films that are more accessible to American audiences.

Northern Lights: A Look at Scandinavian Films in Berlin

Denmark's Italian For Beginners is now going head to head with Stephen Soderbergh's Traffic as the prime contender for Berlin's Golden Bear, and is the sole Scandinavian film in the Competition. It is another home run for the Zentropa Entertainment guys, the producers of Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, the keepers of the Dogme flame. With such international successes as Breaking The Waves, Dancer In The Dark, Festen/The Celebration, Mifune and Together, the films now emerging from Scandinavia are among the most original and challenging films being made.

This year's true indies are to be found in the Panorama and Forum of Young Cinema sections here. Panorama is presenting nine American independent films, including Don's Plum, an improvisational comedy drama about nihilistic young people in Los Angeles. It has been described as the first American Dogme film, for its raw style, synchronized sound and edgy editing. The film, directed by RD Robb, is something of a legend in industry circles, since former Robb buddies Leonard Di Caprio and Tobey Maguire (who both figure in the group of 20-somethings) blocked the US release of the film. With post-production money from Zentropa Entertainment (the producers of Lars Von Trier and Thomas Winterberg), the film is making its World Premiere in Berlin.

Berlin Says Bongiorno to Italy

Following an almost five year drought where no Italian films were featured in the Berlin Film Festival, Italy has returned with a vengeance, with a record nine films screening here, including two films in Competition. Festival honcho Moritz de Hadeln agreed, saying that "it is my distinct impression … that Italian cinema is returning to the forefront of European cinema and that is its rightful position." De Hadeln viewed dozens of films before making his final decisions but commented that "all the films I saw were highly original … they were all courageous and their daring made each of them important."

European Film Market Background

The first big market of the year, the European Film Market is naturally the place where business takes off. In the 2,500 m2 atrium on Potsdamer Platz - as high as Paris' Notre Dame cathedral - the Daimler Chrysler car exhibition and the Jean Tinguely sculpture have been replaced by 55 business stands, representing 112 companies (up 10 from 1999).

The one-and-a-half floors include five major 'umbrella areas', such as France's Unifrance, which houses 16 enterprises in a two-floor construction, and the German Boulevard, with 20 companies crowding into 400m2. Situated between the free whisky bar and the only toilets in the market, Scandinavian Films will probably see more visitors than ever. First-timers include Germany's Kinowelt International World Sales, USA's Highland Crest, UK's IAC, and Japan's Kadokawa and Asmik Ace. From the CineCenter, Probst has brought with her "the usual staffers, the Delikatessen Kontor's oyster bar, the business centre with extended services," adding a cafeteria (besides privately organized catering), Jameson's whisky outlet... and plenty of buyers.

According to the Berlin Film Festival, the European Film Market "seeks to complement the activities of the film business during the Festival by providing the means to further work and foster an atmosphere favorable to commercial transactions."

"The European Film Market is open only to producers, distributors, exhibitors, exporters and importers of films as well as professionals active in the areas of video and television sales and acquisitions. Without being exclusive, the Market is particularly interested in the exchange of productions of European origin or destination. It gives priority to films intended for theatrical distribution."