Berlin-based international sales agent Pluto Film is presenting a diverse slate at the 76th Berlinale (12-22 February) and the European Film Market (EFM, 12-18 February), combining a focus on films for children and young audiences with auteur cinema and socially urgent narratives.

The slate is led by Atlas of the Universe, directed by Romanian filmmaker Paul Negoescu (The Story of a Summer Lover [+lee también:
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ficha de la película], Men of Deeds [+lee también:
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entrevista: Paul Negoescu
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At the EFM, Pluto Film is also introducing the family detective adventure Extraordinary [+lee también:
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ficha de la película], directed by Marina Andree Škop (My Grandpa Is an Alien [+lee también:
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Another recent title on the slate that addresses young perspectives with unflinching honesty is The Pupil [+lee también:
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entrevista: Karin Junger
ficha de la película], directed by Karin Junger (10 Songs for Charity). The drama follows 12-year-old Daan, whose admiration for his football coach slowly turns into a dangerous situation involving manipulation and abuse. From Germany comes Funeral Casino Blues [+lee también:
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entrevista: Roderick Warich
ficha de la película], directed by Roderick Warich, a hypnotic and melancholic melodrama set in Bangkok’s nocturnal underworld, which had its premiere in Venice’s Orizzonti section.

Staying with socially charged narratives, the sales agent continues the international rollout of Hysteria [+lee también:
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entrevista: Devrim Lingnau
entrevista: Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay
ficha de la película] by Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, which premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale and went on to win the Europa Cinemas Label for Best European Film last year. The slate also includes Bidad, the latest feature by Iranian director Soheil Beiraghi, a defiant portrait of a young woman who turns the streets of Tehran into her stage after being forbidden to sing in public. The film has screened widely on the festival circuit, including at Karlovy Vary, where it won the Special Jury Prize, as well as at Vancouver and Istanbul. Pluto Film is further presenting Night Passengers [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Portuguese director Pedro Cabeleira, a raw urban drama that premiered in Cannes’ ACID.

Among the upcoming releases is The Healing, a documentary tracing German scientist Ingmar Hoerr’s accidental discovery of mRNA vaccine technology, which would later save millions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed and produced by Marcus Richardt and Lillian Rosa, the film is set to premiere in the summer.

Alongside its EFM slate, Pluto Film is also unveiling Pluto Film Consultancy, a new initiative built around the company’s distinctive audience design approach. Through tailored workshops and one-on-one sessions, the consultancy supports filmmakers and producers in shaping a cohesive vision for their projects while navigating the increasingly complex landscape of film distribution.

Each consultancy begins with Story Exploration, delving into a project’s narrative, themes and artistic identity, followed by Audience Exploration, identifying and understanding target audiences and their viewing habits. The process culminates in Strategy Exploration, developing a comprehensive distribution plan spanning festival positioning, market strategy and audience outreach, always aiming to preserve the artistic soul of the movie while maximising its international potential.

The workshops will be conducted by Benjamin Cölle (Audience Design and Project Packaging), Daniela Cölle (Audience Design and Script Consultancy) and Rebecca Hartung (Festival Strategies).

Check out our exclusive trailer for Extraordinary below: