Marta Balaga European Film Promotion (EFP), an international network of film promotion institutes from 37 countries, is heading back to Hong Kong’s FilMart for its in-person return. “It wasn’t clear if the reopening of the market [post-pandemic] will immediately lead to business, but people want to reconnect with local companies,” observes deputy managing director Jo Mühlberger.
This year, 28 sales companies from five European countries will be joining EFP’s Europe! Umbrella (22 onsite and six online).
Most of them hail from France, as Unifrance won’t have its own stand, explains Mühlberger. “Some could say it’s naïve to go there so soon, but these professionals know what they are doing.
They really have something to offer, including Berlinale winners. In some Asian territories, awards still sell,” he says. Among the titles presented this year, eight were awarded at the German fest, including “The Plough” by Philippe Garrel (pictured), sold by Wild Bunch, and crowd-pleasing “20,000 Species of Bees” by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (Luxbox). “Disco Boy,” “Orlando, My Political Biography” and “Midwives” by Léa Fehner will also be featured. “At the moment, it’s much more difficult to sell films to Asia.
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