It was exactly 20 years ago – during the 1997 Berlinale – that the time was right to launch EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION e.V. (EFP) to highlight European films internationally in the face of domination from US blockbusters. Initially, ten countries joined forces to promote and market their national cinema in a European context and create networking opportunities for their up-and-coming creatives at major film festivals around the globe. The idea of using „European film" as a global brand has since convinced another 27 countries to join EFP, making it a unique promotional network representing the great diversity of European cinema from a total of 37 countries. This truly European idea has been steadily growing thanks to the unwavering financial support of the Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the EFP member organisations. Additional support for the Hamburg-based office has been granted by the German State Minister for Culture and the Media, the Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, and the Ministry of Culture of the City of Hamburg.
OPENING DOORS by promoting and networking describes the work of EFP best of all. Spurred on by the diverse experience and professional expertise of the growing number of members, the EFP team under the guidance of Managing Director Renate Rose has taken on a vanguard position over the last 20 years by creating networking events for producers, actors and directors, which were an inspiration for many similar projects to come.
Starting with a joint presentation at the Cannes Film Market in 1997 and continuing in 1998 with SHOOTING STARS at the Berlinale and NEW FACES OF EUROPEAN CINEMA at the Toronto International Film Festival as well as the EUROPEAN UMBRELLA Office at the American Film Market, EFP began tapping into markets around the world and has since promoted European film and talent in Busan, Karlovy Vary, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, New York, Guadalajara, Istanbul and Hong Kong, to name just a few. With the introduction of FILM SALES SUPPORT in 2004, EFP added a very important tool to its portfolio in order to support the international marketing of European films. With the financial support of the MEDIA Programme, sales agents receive funding for the promotion and marketing of individual films in selected non-European film festivals and markets.
In acknowledging the evolving needs of the market, EFP has constantly improved and refined long-standing programmes as well as creating new initiatives to put a spotlight on current developments: this year will see the first edition of NEW DIRECTIONS IN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARIES, which will present outstanding productions at the Metrograph cinema in New York City from May 4 – 7. Following a successful launch in 2016, EFP will be presenting EUROPEAN CINEMA: 10 WOMEN FILMMAKERS TO WATCH at the Sydney Film Festival for a second time. And FILM SALES SUPPORT will be expanding in 2017 to new markets, including the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto. A move that - together with the FSS SLATE FUNDING scheme first introduced in 2016 - gives European film sales companies more opportunities for marketing their films internationally.
The 20th anniversary of EFP also marks another very important change for the pan-European organisation: Renate Rose – EFP's founding Managing Director and the driving force and guarantor of continuity for this very diverse project over the past 20 years – will retire in March 2017. During her tenure, EFP has developed into a strong organisation. She will be succeeded by Sonja Heinen, whose professional background as Head of the Berlinale Co-Production Market and Programme Manager of the Berlin based World Cinema Fund made her predestined for this new task.
EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS
9 – 13 Feb.
WESTWIND WESTWIND – EUROPEAN OSCAR ENTRIES IN ST. PETERSBURG
19 – 23 April
NEW DIRECTIONS: EUROPEAN NON FICTION FILMS
4 – 7 May
PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE AT THE CANNES IFF
19 – 23 May
EUROPEAN CINEMA: 10 WOMAN FILMMAKERS TO WATCH at the Sydney IFF
7 – 11 June
FUTURE FRAMES at the Karlovy Vary IFF
2 - 5 July
OPENING DOORS at the Busan IFF
12 – 18 Oct. (tbc)
OSCAR SCREENINGS in LA
2 – 15 Nov. (tbc)
European Umbrella at FILMART Hong Kong
13-16 March
European Umbrella Toronto IFF
7 – 14 Sept. (tbc)
European Umbrella at the Asian Film Market in Busan
15 – 18 Oct. (tbc)
European Umbrella at the AFM in Los Angeles
1 – 8 Nov.
FILM SALES SUPPORT
Sundance Film Festival
19 - 29 January
FILMART Hong Kong
13 - 16 March
Tribeca Film Festival
19 - 30 April
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
27 April - 7 May
Toronto IFF
7 – 18 Sept.
AFM in Los Angeles
1 – 8 Nov.
Asian Film Market in Busan
12 – 18 Oct. (tbc)