First positive impressions from the bustling EFM 2011

An optimistic mood, numerous sales and a visible growth in the number of participants and films are the first positive conclusions that can be drawn from the European Film Market 2011 of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.

EFM director Beki Probst announced, "We are very pleased with the outcome of the EFM 2011: more participants, more buyers, more films, more screenings and more market premieres - the international film business experienced an upswing in Berlin. It appears the downward trend has been broken and we are climbing out of recession."


Business at the EFM was further stimulated by several films from this year's festival programme, including the Iranian film in the Competition, Nader And Simin, A Separation (directed by Asghar Farhadi), the French production Tomboy (directed by Céline Sciamma) in the sections Panorama and Generation, and Khodorkovsky (directed by Cyril Tuschi) in the section Panorama Dokumente. Following their festival screenings, the respective sales agents were able to sell to numerous countries at the EFM. www.efm-berlinale.de


The European Film Market (EFM) runs for nine days as part of one of the most important film festivals in the world, the Berlinale. As the first major film event of the year, it is a magnet for international industry professionals, and is seen as a barometer for the upcoming year in film.



The EFM is the business centre of the festival, taking place in the magnificent renaissance exhibition hall of the Martin-Gropius-Bau (MGB), and in the official second location at the EFM Marriott Offices and Stands in the deluxe modern Marriott Hotel, both just minutes away from the festival headquarters at Potsdamer Platz in the heart of contemporary Berlin. A mix of old and new, innovative and historical - it is a city full of contradictions, whose highly charged atmosphere is reflected in the energy of the Market.



Coming together

Each year, producers, distributors, buyers and sales agents converge at the EFM where both commercial art-house and specialized mainstream are given star billing. The open and lively environment of MGB allows for ample opportunity to meet and network with a wide variety of your industry colleagues.



Our goal is to provide you with a marketplace where you can discover the best quality products in the film business. We see ourselves as your partners, keeping pace with the latest industry trends from all over the world.






Making Connections

Recognizing that new and emerging talent is our greatest resource, the EFM continues to promote discovery, facilitate collaborations and provide platforms for productions in development.



Under the auspices of the EFM, the Berlinale Co-Production Market is an intensive three-day event where international producers and financiers meet with the goal of finding partners for selected projects. Located at the Berlin House of Representatives, directly across from the MGB, moving from one event to the next is quick and easy.



Straight from Sundance is a co-operation with the Sundance Film Festival giving our international buyers a first crack at new films from the American independent scene.



Meet the Docs is a platform to facilitate networking among buyers, sellers, directors and producers of documentary films hosted in collaboration with the European Documentary Network.



German Cinema - LOLA@Berlinale is the new EFM sidebar presenting the films longlisted in the categories feature, children’s and documentary film for the German Film Awards (aka Lola) by the German Film Academy. The series is a joint project of the Berlin International Film Festival, the German Film Academy and German Films.



Whether putting together deals, networking for new opportunities or catching up with colleagues, it’s all about relationships. And that’s what we’re here for.


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