Focus on Canada at coming EFM 2018

from left to right: Michel Pradier (Director Project Financing, Telefilm Canada), Marielle Poupelin (Director International Promotion, Telefilm Canada), EFM President Beki Probst, Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick and EFM Director Matthijs Wouter Knol at the signing of the contract © Loïc Thébaud

In 2018, Canada will be the next “Country in Focus” at the European Film Market (EFM) of the Berlin International Film Festival. The EFM’s “Country in Focus” programme, launched in 2017, was created to give the film industry and filmmakers of a country the opportunity to introduce themselves in greater depth and highlight certain aspects.

Supported by Telefilm Canada, Canada’s vibrant film scene will present itself from a variety of perspectives at the Berlinale’s EFM 2018. The highlights of the Canadian programme at the market will be published by September. A high number of Canadian producers and other film professionals are expected to attend the festival.

“Canada in Focus” at the EFM is being held on the occasion of “Canada 150”, which marks the 150^th anniversary of Confederation in Canada. As an expression of the partnership between the two countries, exchange in the fields of culture, commerce, science and technology is to be intensified.

Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick comments: “For many years now, our relationship with Canada has been excellent and we’re neighbours of the Canadian Embassy at Potsdamer Platz. Sharing this commitment with our Canadian friends from Telefilm Canada at the EFM is a fantastic opportunity to develop our work together even further.”

Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director Carolle Brabant remarks: “We are honoured to be invited as the 2018 ‘Country in Focus’ at the European Film Market in Berlin. ‘Canada in Focus’ is an important global showcase for Canadian creators that will enable Canadian content to reach new audiences and will create new export opportunities for our industry. Canadian cinema has long felt at home at the Berlinale and the EFM. Collaborating in this way will only strengthen our good and longstanding partnership.”

EFM Director Matthijs Wouter Knol says: “The opportunity to focus on and extensively present film countries such as Canada at the market supports not only the EFM’s relationships with individual film industries internationally, but also fosters exchange between the film industries themselves. Canada will have spectacular visibility at the upcoming EFM.”

The EFM will take place from February 15 to 23, 2018 during the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.