Now in its fourth edition, the CineCoPro Conference returns to Filmfest München (27 June-6 July) as a key gathering for producers looking to forge new co-production alliances. Running from 30 June-3 July, this year’s edition turns its attention to the south, spotlighting the creative and cultural synergies between Germany and the Alpine regions of Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol.

Organised with the support of Austrian Films, Swiss Films, the Zurich Film Fund, the Switzerland Film Commission, IDM Film Commission Südtirol, German Films, FFF Bayern and Creative Europe Desk Munich, the conference will host 25 producers from the Alpine region and over 30 German industry professionals. Together, they will explore co-production opportunities and examine how the European film landscape is evolving amidst shifting political and economic realities.

In a joint statement, Filmfest München directors Christoph Gröner and Julia Weigl (see the interview) underlined the growing relevance of cross-border collaboration: “We are proud of the fact that we’re able to devote nearly half of this year’s CineCoPro Competition to world premieres. This underscores our commitment to international cooperation. Particularly in view of the current global political situation, we believe it is more important than ever to promote dialogue, overcome cultural divides and feature the widest possible range of identities.”

The four-day conference kicks off with a welcome reception and an informal “Producers Meet Producers” introductory session. At the heart of the programme is the CineCoPro Project Pitch, which presents a curated line-up of ten projects in development from Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol, all seeking German co-production partners. These pitches are supported by a full agenda of one-on-one meetings, case studies, panels and keynote sessions, providing insights into the challenges and advantages of working within the German-speaking co-production space.

Notable highlights include a master class hosted by Kirch Stiftung, a legal and financing panel led by Fieldfisher, and a FilmTalk dedicated to female voices from Austria and Switzerland. In addition, several funding bodies will lead sessions on regional support mechanisms and how best to access co-production financing.

A key part of CineCoPro’s unique atmosphere comes from its informal networking formats. These include the traditional Isar River raft trip, a relaxed yet productive setting for forging early connections, as well as garden receptions at the Amerikahaus. The event concludes with a round-up presentation, further meetings and a final reception hosted by FFF Bayern.

Among this year’s standout case studies are two films premiering in the festival’s main competition: I’m Not Stiller by Stefan Haupt, a German-Swiss adaptation of Max Frisch’s novel exploring identity and memory; and A Land Within by Michael Kofler, a South Tyrolean-German-Austrian co-production set during the politically turbulent “Feuernacht” of 1961. The talk will be driven by the producers of the films and will tackle the production processes underpinning these cooperations.

The CineCoPro Conference is part of the Beergarden Convention, the festival’s hub for industry dialogue and networking, which returns with a dynamic programme. It begins with a warm-up day co-organised by the Produktionsallianz and the Creators Conference (see the news). On 30 June, the Film & Democracy Network presents “How Democratic Can Stories Be?”, a panel examining how storytelling in film and television reflects democratic values and societal challenges. Another highlight follows on 5 July with the first-ever Munich Film Summit, held after the awards reception. Co-organised by Filmfest München, Filmstadt München eV and DOK.fest München, and supported by the City of Munich, the summit will address the future of local cinema under the theme “Creative Synergy and Local Solutions for Supporting Cinema”.

Several other key events complement the conference. On 29 June, Hessen Film & Medien presents “Shift to the Right: When Politics Threaten the Arts”, a panel exploring how rising right-wing agendas are challenging artistic freedom across Europe. On 1 July, “Showrunning in Europe: The Craft of Creative Leadership”, organised by Creative Europe Desk Munich, will offer insights into the evolving role of showrunners. Writer and showrunner Jeppe Gjervig Gram (Borgen, Follow the Money) will unpack the creative and structural demands of leading a writers’ room, with moderation by Seriencamp’s Gerhard Maier. Both events will take place at Amerikahaus and are open to accredited guests.