10/02/2006

Bigger, more beautiful and functional. These are the challenges that the newly revamped European Film Market (EFM), which opened yesterday alongside the Berlin Film Festival, set for itself in order to satisfy the 254 exhibition companies from 45 countries registered this year, 35% more than in 2005 due to changes in this year’s film market calendar.

To respond to the increasing demand for business space from the 4,000 plus international film professionals that attend the event, the EFM has indeed moved its nerve centre from the Daimler Chrysler Atrium to the elegant Martin-Gropius-Bau (MGB), one of Berlin’s most famous exhibition spaces, which offers twice as much exhibition space and is still a five minute walk from the festival centre. Additional facilities at the EFM Business offices – also at close walking distance – have also been made available to some 35 companies that could be not be housed at the MGB.

In terms of services and facilities, the majority of the festival’s 950 screenings this year (as compared with 860 in 2005) will continue to take place on the 24 screens of the CinemaxX and Cinestar, but, in addition, some of over 460 market premieres will be able to use the fully-equipped 200-seat auditorium and the MGB. Buyers wanting to view films outside the official screening programme will also have access to the new Arts Alliance Media Screenings on Demand Lounge located on the second floor of the MGB.

The EFM team, under the aegis of the dynamic Beki Probst, has worked hard for over a year not to offer just the 'bear' necessities but the most facilities. Business is up and running and its up to the films to deliver.