Beki Probst • Director of European Film Market
“The EFM is adapting to the changing marketplace”
by Annika Pham
As international buyers and sellers are preparing their meeting and screening schedules before the start of the first film market of the year, Beki Probst, managing director of the European Film Market in Berlin, told Cineuropa what to expect.
Cineuropa: How does the EFM look a few days away from kick-off?
Beki Probst: It looks very good. The Martin Gropius Bau (MGB) is full to capacity with 353 companies, compared to 316 in 2009. The Media stand has 110 companies, against 87 last year. Numbers are slightly down for companies registered at the Marriott Hotel (57 compared to 92 last year) but altogether figures are up. Last year we had a few more buyers (1448 as of January 26, against 1339 this year) but, still, it all looks very positive.
What is the trend in terms of countries represented?
We have 48 countries represented. The majority come from the US, the UK, Germany and France, but we have also good numbers from Latin America and Asia. New this year is the umbrella booked by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), organiser of the American Film Market, which will bring 14 US companies (including six new ones) to the MGB.
New technologies are changing the nature of the industry. How is this reflected by the companies registered at the EFM?
A phenomenon I noticed at the American Film Market last autumn, which has been confirmed with us, is the increasing number of Internet buyers, with new companies emerging. Yes, the market is changing, and to adapt to these changes we have made innovations by signing a new deal with the Astor Film Lounge, a historic cinema in Berlin, to offer buyers 3D screenings on the top of normal screenings.
What other innovations are awaiting EFM participants?
On the second floor of the MGB there will be a whole new lounge for people to meet in a quieter environment. The same floor will also host the popular Meet the Distributors sessions, held as part of the Meet the Docs event, co-organised with the European Documentary Network. Then, of course, we will have the usual industry debates held at the Gropius Mirror Restaurant, and the Books at Berlinale and Straight from Sundance programmes.
What is the general mood of the industry?
We’re all going through very turbulent times. In terms of sales agent, I’ve noticed that they seem to be more cautious, less adventurous. They carefully calculate the type of cinema they want to book for their screenings. People are also confident that things are getting better.
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