by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel
In the past we’ve had the opportunity to attend unique events at various film festivals, but of course last year all were cancelled for safety reasons. However, people interested in film production and associated trades can now join in to enhance their own professional knowledge via an upcoming unique way for holding seminars. I recently learned what Scandinavian Films has planned, in early March, through the Norwegian Film Institute’s Manager of International Relations and Feature Films, Stine Oppegaard. We met years ago at a reception in East Hampton when Ms. Oppegaard was attending the Hampton International Film Festival (HIFF) on behalf of her country’s film institute and we’ve kept in touch since then. Scandinavian Films is hosting three exciting webinars on co-production, new trends in family films, and international sales during Berlinale 2021, all moderated by Wendy Mitchell, journalist and film festival consultant from the UK. Professionals conducting the Webinars include noted Scandinavian directors, producers and industry titans. No badge needed, you can register for free to attend. Visit https://scandinavianfilms.org/
At the Scandinavian Films pavilion in the virtual European Film Market, you can learn more about the Nordic films selected for the various official Berlin programs. You can also check out which new Nordic films are available to screen on the EFM platform (market badge required) and you can get the latest updates about upcoming titles and gather practical information about film finance, production, co-production and promotion throughout the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Webinar will be held March 1 – 5, 2021.
Webinars:
On March 2 the Webinar is entitled Joining Forces: Collaborating for Strong Co-Productions. How are producers and funders thinking about the smartest and most successful co-productions for 2021 and coming years? Experts talk about the benefit of tapping into financial incentives as well as finding the right creative collaborators. Producers offer practical advice from recent and upcoming high-profile co-productions including Flee, Triangle of Sadness and Daniel.
March 3rd – The Kids Are All Right: The Boom in Family Films. Children’s and family films, both live action and animation, have been audience favorites for years at the box-office. Now youth films are also much in demand on digital platforms. The experts address what kinds of kids’ films are the hottest sellers, what are the trends in storytelling for children, and what are the secrets for how these films cut through the noise to reach their target audience (and their parents).
March 4th – Deal or No Deal: Demystifying International Sales. What do producers need to know about working with international sales companies? How do you find the right fit for your film and how do you best work with your sales agent throughout the process? What kinds of projects are selling well in 2021, and how can sellers create buzz with debut features by unknown talents? How is the changing festival landscape of 2021 and beyond impacted sales?
For more information about each of the five Scandinavian Film Institutes or Foundations you can visit them individually.
Danish Film Institute: www.dfi.dk • Finnish Film Foundation www.ses.fi
Icelandic Film Centre: www.icelandicfilmcentre.is • Swedish Film Institute: www.sfi.se
Norwegian Film Institute: www.norwegianfilms.no
