Variety
5th December 2007
Berlin Market holds digital debates
EFM is fully booked
By Ed Meza
BERLIN — The state of digital distribution will be moved front and center at the upcoming European Film Market in February.
London-based Art Alliance Media, Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services and the EFM’s sponsor and main partner, will showcase a series of discussion and debates focusing on the challenges of digital film distribution and sales.
The EFM Industry Debates, which will take place Feb. 8-10 at the Marriott Hotel, will examine topics relating to digital cinema.
Kicking off the annual industry calendar, the EFM, part of the Berlin Intl. Film Festival, will be open for business Feb. 7- 17.
Following the soaring growth of the past two years, the EFM has established itself as one of the top three international film markets in the world and market organizers plan to expand its position even further in 2008.
"After successfully repositioning the market in 2006, we would now like to reinforce the EFM’s status as a top global event for the film business and optimize what we offer to the international film industry," said EFM director Beki Probst.
The market's exhibition venues, the Martin Gropius Bau and the EFM Exhibitor Offices at Potsdamer Platz, are filling rapidly.With 178 companies from 47 countries registered so far, EFM organizers are predicting an increase in total exhibitors over last year. The market boasted a total 259 companies from 46 countries in 2007.
Additional events at the market include the Straight from Sundance film series, an exclusive showcase of highlights from Sundance; the Latin American Works-in-Progress forum, a platform for young talents from Latin America; and the Books at Berlinale initiative, presented by the Berlinale Co-Production Market and the Frankfurt Book Fair.