BERLIN, Jan 9 (ZIZ): The 21st Berlinale Co-Production Market, scheduled from February 17th to 21st, has unveiled its meticulously selected lineup of 34 film projects representing 27 countries. These chosen projects, seeking international partnerships for financing and realization, epitomize diverse narratives and innovative visions poised for future international co-productions. Notably, 17 of the 34 projects are helmed by female directors, showcasing a significant breadth of perspectives. This year, the event saw a slight uptick in submissions, totaling 318.
Part of the selection includes 18 feature film projects, supported by established international production houses, with budgets ranging from 600,000 to five million euros. The lineup boasts acclaimed directors such as Kateryna Gornostai from Ukraine, who previously earned a Crystal Bear for “Stop-Zemlia” in 2021, Antonio Lukich, recognized for “Luxembourg, Luxembourg” at Venice 2022, and other notable filmmakers like Andrea Pallaoro, Mirjana Karanović, and the Chinese-Japanese duo, Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka.
Furthermore, the Berlinale Directors section introduces three fresh projects in early funding stages. Among these are Sally Potter, a familiar face with four film presentations in the Berlinale Competition, alongside Mira Fornay and Babatunde Apalowo, both honored recipients of Berlinale awards in the past year. Additionally, projects by Andreas Fontana and Fradique, esteemed in previous festivals, join the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express initiative.
One unique hybrid project, “Zone | Myths” by Daria Yurkevich, blending documentary and fiction, secures a spot in the World Cinema Market section in collaboration with the Berlinale World Cinema Fund.
Martina Bleis, the head of the Berlinale Co-Production Market, emphasized, “These projects delve into prevailing societal themes – migration, family dynamics, political upheavals – offering diverse perspectives. They encapsulate an array of genres, from thought-provoking dramas to thrillers, seamlessly weaving warmth, humor, and unconventional viewpoints.”
In parallel, the Talent Project Market, in collaboration with Berlinale Talents, features ten budding producers seeking global partnerships for their projects. Among these, narratives exploring queer life amid challenging social and political landscapes stand out, accompanied by a mystical horror story and a unique animation project incorporating sign language.
The Company Matching program involves five companies from France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, and Singapore, offering tailored discussions on structural concepts or project slates.
As the event unfolds, the Berlinale Co-Production Market anticipates over 1,500 one-on-one meetings during the Berlinale, fostering connections between project producers and potential co-producers, sales representatives, broadcasters, funding bodies, streaming platforms, and film distributors worldwide.
Over the years, the Berlinale Co-Production Market has birthed over 360 films, including award-winning titles like “20,000 Species of Bees” (2023), “Alcarràs” (2022), and “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn” (2021). Notably, past projects like “The Siren,” “Puan,” “Holly,” “Toll,” “Shame on Dry Land,” among others, celebrated successful premieres following their market incubation.
Additionally, films like “Girls Will Be Girls” and “Handling the Undead” are set to screen at Sundance. Furthermore, the festival confirms the inclusion of “Comme le feu,” initially presented at the Berlinale Co-Production Market in 2020, in the 2024 Generation programme.
Moreover, the event teases upcoming announcements for ten new series projects in the Co-Pro Series pitch event and ten literary adaptations for Books at Berlinale.
For further details and the complete list of projects, visit the Berlinale Co-Production Market website. Supported by MDM – Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, the Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union, and the FFA – German Federal Film Board, the Berlinale Co-Production Market stands as a premier initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, with the Berlin House of Representatives as a key venue and cooperation partner.
Official Selection of Projects, Berlinale Co-Production Market 2024
Feature Film Projects
- The Side Effects of Trusting Life (director: Ahmad Ghossein), Abbout Productions, Lebanon
- A Woman Builds (directors: Huang Ji & Ryuji Otsuka), Akanga Film Asia, Singapore & YGP-Film, Japan & Island X Pictures, Taiwan
- Next Apparition (director: Julieta Amalric), Cimarrón Cine, Argentina / Uruguay
- My Hands (director: Eoin Heaney), Feline Films Limited, Ireland
- Screaming Girl (director: Antonio Lukich), ForeFilms, Ukraine
- To the Wedding (director: Andrea Pallaoro), Good Question Media, Canada
- Idda’s Breath (director: Irene Dionisio), Kino Produzioni, Italy
- Divorce During the War (director: Andrius Blaževičius), M-Films, Lithuania
- Last Trip (director: Ziad Kalthoum), Mayana Films, Germany
- Antonivka (director: Kateryna Gornostai), Moon Man, Ukraine & Just a Moment, Lithuania
- Marriage by Abduction (director: Sophia Mocorrea), NiKo Film, Germany
- Ich bin Marika (director: Hajni Kis), Proton Cinema, Hungary
- To Die on Your Feet (director: María Paz González), Quijote Films, Chile
- Remains of Life (director: Sevda Shishmanova), Red Carpet, Bulgaria
- Folk Play (director: Mirjana Karanović), This and That Productions, Serbia
- Fragments of This Beauty (director: Burak Çevik), Vayka Film, Turkey & Fol Films, Turkey
- Burnings (director: Jerry Carlsson), Verket Produktion, Sweden
- The Girl with the Leica (director: Alina Marazzi), Vivo Film, Italy
Berlinale Directors Projects
- Alma (director: Sally Potter), Adventure Pictures, United Kingdom & Sixteen Films, United Kingdom
- Twist the Rabbit (director: Mira Fornay), Cineart, Czech Republic & Mirafox, Slovak Republic
- Londoner (director: Babatunde Apalowo), Polymath Pictures, Nigeria, Cato Street Productions, United Kingdom & Sixteen Films, United Kingdom
World Cinema Market Project
- Zone | Myths (director: Daria Yurkevich), Doppelplusultra Filmproduktion, Germany
Rotterdam-Berlinale Express
- The Diplomats (director: Andreas Fontana), Alina film, Switzerland
- Hold Time for Me (director: Fradique), Seera Films, Germany
Talent Project Market Projects and Selected Producer Talents
- – Eau de Colony (director: Veronica Spedicati), Alcor (producer: Giorgio Gucci), Italy
- – So the Lovers Could Come Out Again (director: George Peter Barbari), Btrswt Pictures (producer: Christelle Younes),
Lebanon
- Silence Sometimes (director: Álvaro Robles), Cartuna (producer: Mireia Vilanova), USA & Spain
- Bad Gays (director: Loïc Hobi), Cloud Fog Haze Pictures (producer: Michael Graf),
Switzerland
- Pogana (director: David Kapac), Eclectica (producer: Rea Rajčić), Croatia
- The Numbered Days (director: Agustina San Martín), Mil Monos (producer: Maximiliano Monzon), Argentina & Spain
- Uptight Ass (director: Matija Gluščević), Naked (producer: Čarna Vučinić), Serbia
- Astana Internet Stars (director: Assel Aushakimova), Risk Pictures (producer: Assel Aushakimova), Kazakhstan
- More than a Hug (director: Christian Zetterberg), Snowcloud (producer: Liselotte Persson), Sweden
- Little Lying Wild (director: Samantha Aldana), Valerie Steinberg Productions (producer: Valerie Steinberg), USA & Belize
Company Matching Programme
- Hobab, Sweden
- Momo Film Co, Singapore
- Paradise City, United Kingdom & France
- Special Touch Studios, France
- Ukbar Filmes, Portugal
