Markets

Italy has been appointed as Country In Focus for the next edition of the EFM - European Film Market at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, which will be held from 15 to 21 February 2024. Italy will take part in the event to promote the Italian audio-visual system with panels and activities involving all the different categories of the industry, while also presenting new incentives and encouraging new co-production agreements with Italy, along with the development of film projects, networking, financing, production and distribution.

Mariette Rissenbeek, managing director of the Berlinale, said: "Italy as a film nation with outstanding filmmakers has enriched the Berlinale for a great many years. Honorary Golden Bears for lifetime achievement have been awarded to Sophia Loren, Claudia Cardinale, Francesco Rosi and Milena Canonero, among others. Numerous Italian filmmakers have premiered their films at the Berlinale, joining a long, continuing list of Italian guests. Most recently, in 2016, the Golden Bear for Best Film went to Italy: 'Fire at Sea' by Gianfranco Rosi. I am delighted that Italy will now also take a place of honour at the European Film Market and that we will be able to get to know the diversity of the Italian film industry even better in the coming edition.”

"It will be an important moment to turn the spotlight on our industry in a period of great change and growth. It will also be a key opportunity to reinforce relations with our foreign partners and to illustrate to them all the measures available for the internationalisation of our industry. These measures aim to promote Italy as an ideal location to shoot audiovisual products, thanks to the beauty of the territory and national and regional funds, but also as a reliable and prestigious partner to co-produce and provide content, thanks to the Film Distribution Fund, recently renewed and strengthened," said Roberto Stabile, Head of Special Projects of the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture at Cinecittà.