Europa Distribution returns once again to the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin this February 2026 with an open panel titled "Das Leben Der Anderen: Understanding and Collaboration in the Film Sector". To ensure a vibrant future for European cinema, the industry needs open, constructive dialogue and stronger collective action. This panel offers space for sector representatives to voice their evolving needs and explore ways to strengthen circulation and reach of independent European films, and invites a wider professional audience and all EFM attendees to participate in the conversation.

Taking place on Sunday, 15 February at 11:30-13:00 at the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation, the discussion will delve into pressing questions. Distributors occupy a unique position in the value chain, operating between B2B and B2C. Their role is crucial: they connect stories with audiences, linking creation and production to exhibition and viewers across continents. Because of this central function, distributors not only collaborate with each other but also work closely with other parts of the value chain - particularly international sales and exhibition (theatres, platforms)- though their partnerships extend beyond these sectors of the film ecosystem.

Past events organized by Europa Distribution have demonstrated a growing appetite for collaboration and partnership as well as a strong demand for greater understanding among professionals across the film industry. In consequence there is a strong need to better understand how existing synergies between professionals can be strengthened, to build a better future for our industry and our films.

One of the many steps to take to secure a vibrant future for European films is to open a constructive dialogue about where the industry is heading and how we can collectively make it stronger—for the benefit of European cinema, its reaching to audiences and cultural diversity. This panel aims to provide a space where representatives of various parts of the film eco-system will voice the needs of their evolving sectors and explore together how to strengthen their collaboration for the sake of better circulation of independent European films and their reaching audiences.

The panel brings together Mira Staleva, producer at Art Fest (Bulgaria), Benjamin Cölle, world sales at Pluto Films (Germany), Gabrielle Rozing, distributor at Imagine Film Distribution (The Netherlands), Eduardo Escudero, distributor at A Contracorriente Films (Spain) and Ida Johannessen, exhibitor at Vega Scene (Norway). The discussion will be moderated by journalist, moderator and film festival consultant Wendy Mitchell (UK).

The panel is part of the EFM Industry Sessions, which include talks, think tanks, and networking opportunities designed for film industry professionals. The full Industry Programme is available on the EFM website.