Oscar contenders and Berlinale winners will be among the European films represented by visiting companies to FilMart that benefit from the European film promotion umbrella within the annual Hong Kong market.
In all, 29 European film sales companies are making the trip, including more than a dozen from France under the Unifrance banner. Notable rights brokers include Charades, Goodfellas, Fandango, and Filmax.
“EFP has been building the European brand in Hong Kong for many years by creating a prominent umbrella. The aim has always been to prominently showcase our mission as the one-stop-shop for the European industry and European films,” said Suzanne Davies, Executive Director of EFP. “And we are delighted that so many of them have They take advantage of this opportunity.
Together the 29 companies represent more than 140 new European addresses. Among these films is “Anatomy of a Fall,” which is competing for an Oscar, and is represented by MK2 Films, while “Four Daughters” is handled by The Party Film Sales.
Three of the participating sales companies are presenting award-winning titles in Berlin last month. The winner of the Silver Bear Jury Prize is “The Empire” directed by Bruno Dumont, directed by Memento International. The triple award-winning Norwegian panorama film, Sex by Dag Johan Høgerud (CICAE Art Cinema Award, Label Europe Cinemas, Ecumenical Jury Prize), is represented by m-appeal. And the first German feature film “Ivo” by Eva Trobisch from Encounters (Heiner Carow Prize) is being sold by Loco Films.
FilMart appears to play an important role for European rights resellers and Asian distributors with licenses. This depends on the timing of the market (between Berlin and Cannes) and its geographical location.
“Although negotiations and sales to mainland China – Hong Kong’s main attraction – have become more unpredictable, the sentiment among sales agents seems to be to not miss this spring market and test the waters if FilMart is able to open its doors. Doors for more From Asian regions, such as Southeast Asia.“Having said that, there does appear to be a slight resurgence in terms of acquisitions from China,” said Susan Davis, EFP’s executive director.
“We have also seen that some Asian buyers, from Japan and South Korea in particular, are skimping on travel to major international markets, and (European) sales agents are expecting to meet in Hong Kong, instead.”
There is little left to chance. The EFP now provides funding to help major European titles reach their goals in international markets. This year, ten films are getting a film sales boost.
French company Kinology is using it to market two films in post-production, the Franco-German co-production “Disappearance” by Kirill Serebrennikov, and “Our Wildest Days” by Vassilis Kikatos (France, Greece). Germany-based Picture Tree International is using it to stage the Danish film “Unsinkable” by Christian Andersen and “Grand Finale” by Sigurjón Kjartansson from Iceland. WTFilms is campaigning for “Schlitter” by Pierre Mochet (France). Danish company TrustNordisk is raising funds for five films, including “The Artic Convoy” by Henrik M. Dalsbakken from Norway.