Spain bets on the outside market
- The organizers of Madrid de Cine – Spanish Film Screenings presented its 8th edition, which will bring together producers, vendors, distributors and journalists from around the world this month
The 8th edition of Madrid de Cine – Spanish Film Screenings, organized by the FAPAE, will take place from June 17th to 19th in the Spanish capital. With the national box-office in decline, the hopes of the local cinema industry are set more than ever on the international market. The sadly missed figure of the pioneer and audacious producer Elías Querejeta, who died a few days ago, is a reminder of the importance of increasing the diffusion of Spanish cinema beyond the country’s frontiers (read the info).
All the speakers at the press conference, which presented Madrid de Cine and took place this morning at the Cinema Academy, insisted on the crucial role of this dynamic professional rendez-vous, which will allow over 150 Spanish producers and vendors to meet with 69 buyers from all over the world, representing 54 companies and 29 countries. The event will host nine world premieres.
In his speech, the President of the Academy, Enrique González Macho, emphasized that: “These days presenting Spanish production to international professionals are not only essential, but also increasingly successful from one year to the next, which confirms that Spanish cinema is viewed more widely outside the country than in, a phenomenon that has become a strength and a brand name".
Pedro Pérez, President of the FAPAE, declared: "It is in order to follow the star of Elías Querejeta and pursue his efforts to export our films that we organize Madrid de Cine, a rendez-vous backed by all kinds of institutions with different ideologies, but who all share the same awareness of the importance of expanding our markets. We want to imitate the French who made Cannes a great market, a celebration and a meeting point". The numbers that Pérez will soon present “demonstrate that we do not have any other choice but to go beyond our national boundaries.”
© Photo: Pipo Fernández
(Translated from Spanish)
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