The Berlinale Co-Production Market is a two-and-a-half-day-event during the International Film Festival. About 450 experienced international producers, film financiers, sales agents and distributors as well as broadcasting and funding representatives, come together to initiate international co-productions. The event is located in the Berlin House of Representatives opposite the Martin-Gropius-Bau, which houses the European Film Market.

 

The main partners of the Berlinale Co-Production Market are MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (since 2004) and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union (since 2005).

The sixth Berlinale Co-Production Market takes place February 8-10, 2009.

 

Each autumn, experienced production companies from around the world can submit projects for which they are seeking co-production partners. By the end of the year the Berlinale Co-Production Market team selects the projects that will be included in the Project Catalogue for the upcoming edition. Around three weeks before the festival the catalogue is sent to all registered Berlinale Co-Production Market participants.

 

Based on the information in the catalogue, participants can let us know which producers from the selected projects they would like to meet in person for a one-to-one meeting. These individual meetings are organised by the Berlinale Co-Production Market team according to the availability of the meeting partners. The appointments are compiled to create a personalized schedule.

 

Part of the service of the Berlinale Co-Production Market is intensive consultation. Project director Sonja Heinen’s team is available for assistance throughout the preparatory phase.

In addition to the intensive one-on-one meetings, participants can find the latest hands-on information and make new contacts through the many networking opportunities during the market. Case Studies on Berlinale films elaborate on current trends in co-production and financing opportunities and in Theme Talks participants can exchange experiences with experts and colleagues on selected topics. Country Tables and Speed Matching sessions round out the programme. At Country Tables, experts provide information about production conditions and co-production opportunities in a particular country during an informal round table discussion. During a Speed Matching session, participating producers can make new contacts during successive, informal 10-minute meetings.

 

Since 2006 the Berlinale also cooperates with the Frankfurt Book Fair. The Books at Berlinale activities include the world’s first market for literary adaptations to be linked to an A festival. During Breakfast & Books, a joint breakfast with interested producers, international publishers and literary agents present books with high potential for screen adaptation.

 

An additional cooperation – this time with the Berlinale Talent Campus – makes possible the Talent Project Market. This offers selected young filmmakers the chance to present their projects to participants of the Berlinale Co-Production Market and to find out more about international co-productions first hand.

 

Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick described the Berlinale Co-Production Market as a “home for the international producers and financiers attending the Berlinale.” Here they find what they’re usually looking for at a festival: high-quality international projects, excellent business contacts and new initiatives for cooperations.

You will find current, more detailed information under “Berlinale Co-Production Market” on the website of the European Film Market:
 www.efm-berlin.de