EFP European Film Promotion has allocated more than €74,300 in grants to bolster the digital promotion campaigns for a record-breaking number of 45 European films at the Marché du Film in Cannes. Through its long-standing Film Sales Support (FSS) programme, 27 world sales companies are benefitting from a financial boost, enabling them to enhance and customize their marketing strategies for sales to countries outside of Europe. This year’s vast selection of supported finished and unfinished films includes 13 titles directed or co-directed by women and 15 films depicting diversity and inclusion.
FSS funding must be used by the sales companies for a range of ambitious digital promotion activities, such as dedicated social media campaigns, sophisticated and innovative press material, the production of high-quality promo reels, trade ads, PR services and innovative approaches. By strengthening a wholesome campaign, FSS aims to help put films into the limelight in order to attract the attention of non-European buyers ahead of Cannes and ensure a sustained follow-up.
In line with FSS’s ongoing mission to increase sales of European cinema outside Europe, this year’s support covers various titles featured in Un Certain Regard, such as Ulya by Viesturs Kairiss (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland), the moving black-and-white film of legendary basketball player Uljana Semjonova, represented at the Marché by B-Rated International, Forever Your Maternal Animal by Valentina Maurel (Belgium, France, Mexico) which depicts complicated family relationships, sold by Heretic and hard-hit Congo Boy who is torn between commitments and passion, a film by Rafiki Fariala (France, Central African Republic, Italy, Democratic Republic of the Congo) from the Party Film Sales.
FSS is also supporting the campaigns of the following films in Directors’ Fortnight, Maxence Voiseux’s documentary Gabin (France, Switzerland, Germany), handled by world sales Lightdox and Eivind Landsvik’s Low Expectations (Norway, Denmark) promoted by Salaud Morisset. Additionally, two titles in Cannes’ ACID section are receiving the extra promotional push: the adult animation Blaise by Dimitri Planchon and Jean-Paul Guigue (France), based on the Arte TV Series under the same name (represented by Best Friend Forever) as well as the section’s opening family drama, Under A Bad Star by Lola Cambourieu and Yann Berlier (France) which is being sold by Urban Sales. FSS as well funded Tin Castle by Alexander Murphy (Ireland, France / Films Boutique), the narration of an Irish family living in a trailer in the middle of nowhere, screening in Semaine de la Critique.
FSS Tops Up Grants
In line with EFP’s Diversity & Inclusion policy, the FSS Top Up Grants provide the sales companies with more financial means to spur the promotion of films which portray diverse themes and underrepresented people and cultures. This year’s recipients include, Paradise City Film Sales, representing A Girl’s Story by Judith Godrèche (France), an adaptation of Annie Ernaux's Nobel Prize Winning work, m-appeal World Sales featuring Downtown by Michiel van Erp (The Netherlands), a story set around Amsterdam’s most electrifying gay club in the ‘80s; and Minerva Pictures, presenting the gothic-tinged psychological drama, The Nameless Ballad by Federico Zampaglione (Italy), which is still in post-production.
Have HERE a look at all European films for sale at the Marché du Film.
FSS for Hot Docs
Earlier in the year, FSS was awarded for the promotion of two documentaries screening at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival which took place from 23 April to 3 May: Stories For Sandro by Giacomo Boeri (Italy / Fandango), celebrating its world premiere in Canada and competing in the International Spectrum Competition as well as the highly-relevant film, A War On Women by Raha Shirazi (Italy / Minerva Pictures), holding its North American premiere in the festival’s Special Presentations.
Film Sales Support (FSS) is backed by Creative Europe MEDIA since its launch in 2004. FSS facilitates the export of European films to countries outside of Europe by supporting international promotion campaigns of European world sales companies. FSS for the respective films at the Marché du Film and at Hot Docs was confirmed by Cinecittà, Danish Film Institute, Flanders Image, German Films, Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center, ICAA (Spain), National Film Centre of Latvia, Norwegian Film Institute, Polish Film Institute, Screen Ireland, SEE NL, Unifrance and Wallonie Bruxelles Images.
