The Berlin Film Festival is back with an exciting lineup of film projects at its Berlinale Co-Production Market. Producers from 27 countries are gearing up to pitch their ideas and seek potential financing and co-production partnerships from February 17 to 21. This year, the market will showcase 34 projects, with an impressive 17 directed by women. Let’s take a closer look at what’s in store.
Partly Financed Projects and Notable Directors
Out of the 34 projects, 18 already have partial financing, with budgets ranging from Euros 600,000 ($656,000) to Euros 5 million ($5.47 million). Some highly anticipated works come from renowned directors such as Kateryna Gornostai, whose film “Stop-Zemlia” won a Crystal Bear in 2021, and Antonio Lukich, known for his Venice-played film “Luxembourg, Luxembourg.” Additionally, names like Andrea Pallaoro from Italy, Mirjana Karanović from Serbia, and the Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka will surely attract attention.
Berlinale Directors Section
The Berlinale Directors section will feature three upcoming projects from directors who have previously showcased their works at the festival. Sally Potter, known for four films previously shown in the Berlinale Competition, presents “Alma.” Mira Fornay, winner of the best film award at Berlin’s Generation Kplus for “She – Hero,” brings “Twist the Rabbit.” Lastly, Babatunde Apalowo, who won the Teddy Award for “All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White,” presents “Londoner.”
Rotterdam-Berlinale Express
Two projects, “The Diplomats” by Andreas Fontana and “Hold Time for Me” by Fradique, will be showcased at both CineMart in Rotterdam and the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Andreas Fontana, known for “Azor” presented at Berlin’s Encounters in 2021, and Fradique, whose film “Air Conditioner” premiered in Rotterdam in 2020, are expected to attract potential partners.
Zone | Myths and World Cinema Market
A unique hybrid project combining documentary and fiction film, “Zone | Myths” by Daria Yurkevich, will be presented in the World Cinema Market section. Coordinated with the Berlinale World Cinema Fund, this project promises to captivate audiences with its innovative approach.
A History of Success
Over the years, the Berlinale Co-Production Market has been a platform for numerous successful projects. More than 360 films have emerged from these projects, including award-winning films like “20,000 Species of Bees” (2023), “Alcarràs” (2022), and “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn” (2021), all of which won Berlinale Bears.
For a full list of the projects being presented at the Berlinale Co-Production Market, please refer to the official website.
This year’s Berlin Film Festival is sure to captivate audiences with its diverse and exciting range of projects. Stay tuned for updates and immerse yourself in the world of international cinema.