MID-AUGUST LUNCH
by Gianni di Gregorio
TANDOORI LOVE by Oliver Paulus
16.03.2009
Film Sales Support extends support to
international markets in 2009
FSS backs 18 European films at FILMART, Hong Kong
(23-26 March 2009)
For the first time, Film Sales Support (FSS) backs the marketing of European films at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) taking place from 23 - 26 March this year. The FILMART runs alongside the Hong Kong International Film Festival. 18 films are benefitting from European Film Promotion’s (EFP) support scheme which now also offers financial help for films at selected non-European markets from 2009 onwards. To date, FSS, which is financially supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and is now entering its sixth year, had only been on offer for films at international festivals.“With this recent adjustment, EFP wants to open up further promotional platforms for sales of European films to countries outside of Europe”, explains Susanne Davis, EFP Project Manager of FSS. “The initial demand by companies for support at the FILMART shows that we were right to include important film markets into our scheme.”
The Asian Film Market in Pusan and the American Film Market are the next markets for which FSS will be available (see application forms here). FSS grants cover 50% of marketing campaigns for up to two European films, with a maximum of €5,000 for one film and €2,500 for the second film. Apart from the usual costs for promotional material, companies may be reimbursed for hiring a stand or booking market screenings for their films at the exhibition centres.
Amongst the films, for which FSS for the FILMART has been sought, Katalin Varga (Peter Strickland) screened in Competition at this year’s Berlinale. Welcome (Philippe Lioret), The Countess (Julie Delpy) and North (Rune Denstad Langlo) were shown in the Panorama section in Berlin. Two children’s films, Crusade: A March Through Time (Ben Sombogaart) and Little Nicholas (Laurent Tirard) will also be up for sale in Hong Kong.
Supported films and companies:
Art & A (Lithuania)
Loss (Nereikalingi zmones) by Maris Martinsons (Lithuania 2008)
Bavaria Media (Germany)
Kaifeck Murder (Hinter Kaifeck) by Esther Gronenborn (Germany 2009)
Capricci Films (France)
Birdsong (El Cant dels Ocells) by Albert Serra (Spain 2008)
Celluloid Dreams (France)
The Countess by Julie Delpy (Germany/France 2008)
As God Commands (Come Dio Commanda) by Gabriele Salvatores (Italy 2008)
Celsius Entertainment (UK)
Crusade: A March Through Time by Ben Sombogaart (The Netherlands/ Belgium/Luxembourg/Germany/UK 2006)
Fandango Portobello Sales (UK)
Mid-August Lunch (Pranzo di Ferragosto) by Gianni di Gregorio (Italy 2008)
Gomorra by Matteo Garrone (Italy 2008)
Films Distribution (France)
Welcome by Philippe Lioret (France 2008)
Latido Films (Spain)
A Good Man (Un buen Hombre) by Juan Martinez Moreno (Spain 2009)
Sex, Party & Lies (Mentiras y Gordas) by Alfonso Albacete & David Menkes (Spain 2009)
Media Luna Entertainment (Germany)
Tandoori Love by Oliver Paulus (Switzerland/Germany/Austria 2008)
Memento Films International (France)
Katalin Varga by Peter Strickland (Romania/UK/Hungary 2009)
North (Nord) by Rune Denstad Langlo (Norway 2009)
Pyramide International (France)
The Joy of Singing (Le Plaisir de Chanter) by Ilan Duran Cohen
(France 2008)
TrustNordisk (Denmark)
Cold Lunch (Lønsj) by Eva Sørhaug (Norway 2008)
Wild Bunch (France)
Sound of Noise by Ola Simonsson & Johannes Stjarne Nilsson (Sweden/France/Denmark 2009)
Little Nicholas (Petit Nicolas) by Laurent Tirard (France/Belgium 2009)
Contact:
European Film Promotion
Susanne Davis, FSS Project Manager
Email: davis@efp-online.com
Phone: +49 40- 390 6252
EFP is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and by its member organisations. In addition, promotion and PR activities are backed by the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) as well as private sponsors. The Hamburg-based office is financially supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Department for Culture, Sports and Media of the City of Hamburg. FSS in particular is backed by the EFP members German Films and ICA - Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual, Portugal, as well as by the UK Film Council and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
