Brussels: 17 February 2020 – The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the body representing European cinema trade associations and operators, has today released its provisional update on admissions and box office revenues across Europe for 2019.

The world premiere of NUMBERS, a film by Oleg Sentsov, directed from a gulag, is to take place tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18.  The special screening will be a part of the Berlinale 70th anniversary celebration. The film will also screen as Berlinale Special. Today, we present the trailer, poster and photos from the film.

EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027

07/02: Long-term EU budget: The Union’s ambitions must be matched with sufficient reliable funding – European Parliament

EP negotiators for the post-2020 EU budget discussed their priorities with European Council President Charles Michel, ahead of a crucial plenary debate on the budget next week.

08/02: Plenković with Michel: Croatia wants the MFF negotiations concluded during our Presidency – EU2020HR

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said he would do everything so that in the European Union's next seven-year budget Croatia was given appropriate cohesion funds, which he added were the driver of development and investment.

Geo-blocking

28/01: O&O report highlights important risks of a ban on geo-blocking for sport content – Sports Rights Owners Coalition (SROC)

Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates Ltd (“O&O”) have published a report on ‘The impact of potential changes to geo-blocking regulation on sport’, highlighting the risks of extending a ban on geo-blocking for sports content.

Antitrust

30/01: Antitrust: Commission fines NBCUniversal €14.3 million for restricting sales of film merchandise products – European Commission

The European Commission has fined several companies belonging to Comcast Corporation, including NBCUniversal LLC, (“NBCUniversal”) €14 327 000 for restricting traders from selling licensed merchandise within the European Economic Area (EEA) to territories and customers beyond those allocated to them. These restrictions concerned merchandise products featuring the Minions, Jurassic World and other images and characters from NBCUniversal's films.

European Commission

29/01: European Commission 2020 Work Programme: An ambitious roadmap for a Union that strives for more – European Commission

The European Commission adopted its 2020 Work Programme. It sets out the actions the Commission will take in 2020 to turn the Political Guidelines of President von der Leyen into tangible benefits for European citizens, businesses and society.

European Parliament

31/01: "A new dawn for Europe" - Op-ed article by EU Presidents – European Parliament

"A new dawn for Europe" - Op-ed article by Presidents David Sassoli, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen

31/01: Redistribution of seats in the European Parliament after Brexit – European Parliament

As of 1 February, the number and distribution of seats in the Parliament changes following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

05/02: Our Inclusive Digital Europe : Leaving Nobody Behind, Offering Opportunity For Everyone – S&D Group

Position paper

/02: Renew Europe paper on Artificial Intelligence – Renew Europe Group

Position paper

Events

17-18 February: European Parliament ITRE Committee meeting, Brussels

17-18 February: European Parliament JURI Committee meeting, Brussels

17-18 February: European Parliament IMCO Committee meeting, Brussels

18 February: UNIC conference at the European Parliament, Brussels

19 February: Extraordinary ITRE & IMCO Committee meeting with Commissioner Breton on new initiatives in the digital sector, Brussels

19 February: European Commission communication on the Digital Single Market
 
19-20 February: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting, Brussels

20 February: European Council meeting on the long-term EU Budget 2021-2027, Brussels

24 March: Digital Services Act conference: A new rulebook for the digital economy?, Brussels

Studies

O&O - The impact of potential changes to European geo-blocking regulation on sport - January 2020

Göteborg Film Festival - Nostradamus Report 2020 - January 2020

One of the main goals of all MIDPOINT programs is the continuous support for its projects – from the very beginning “on the paper” till the editing room and even further on.

MIDPOINT's special post-production program is now offering consultations in the editing room for its alumni project Lost in Paradise by the writer and director Fiona Ziegler (CZ/CH).

Fiona's directional feature debut, which was developed within MIDPOINT in 2016, is produced by Kristyna Michalek Kvetova (Cinemotif Films). In 2016, it was selected to Thessaloniki’s Agora Crossroads Co-Production Forum.

Lost in Paradise is the first ever Czech-Swiss film co-production realized, the shooting finished in August 2019.

MIDPOINT Editing Room offers tailor-made consultancy during two 5-day sessions. The first session is in progress this week in Prague, Czech Republic (February 10 – 15, 2020). One-to-one intensive work in the editing room is led by the director, writer and editor Ivo Trajkov, who also works as the Head of Editing Department at Prague's FAMU (Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague).

We are happy that we could organize this module in collaboration with our dear partner Studio FAMU, a specialized division of FAMU designed for film and television production and postproduction.

MIDPOINT Editing Room is realized in partnership with Studio FAMU. MIDPOINT Institute operates under the auspices of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

 

European Film Promotion Seeks Europe's Most Promising Up-and-Coming International Producers

'God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya' realised among others by Producers on the Move Zdenka Gold and Labina Mitevska

Each year, 20 young producers from 20 different countries from throughout Europe are selected to participate in PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE at the Cannes Film Festival. The five-day programme aims at connecting enterprising producers with potential co-production partners and strengthening their international industry networks. The programme is underpinned by a promotion and press campaign, creating international visibility and opportunities for the producers.

EFP (European Film Promotion) started this programme 21 years ago - more than 420 producers have participated since then. Many of them went on to become internationally respected industry players whose works are screened at A-festivals around the world, winning awards, including the Oscar­. PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE is financially backed by the Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the participating national film institutes, EFP's member organisations.

EFP is proud of the outcome of PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE, especially in recent years: Between 2016 and 2019 alone, 47 co-productions involving 58 different Producers on the Move were realised - including such critically acclaimed films as God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya (North Macedonia, 2019), The Hole in the Ground (Ireland, 2019) and Sieranevada (Romania, 2016).

Interested producers/production companies wishing to apply for PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE must have completed at least one international co-production, but not more than three.

The final selection of the 20 participants is based on a points system which considers the following criteria:

• the producer's experience in an international co-production (at least one international co-production) is a prerequisite. The selection process favours producers who have been majority producers.
  If candidates were the majority producers in more than three international co-productions, they, unfortunately, are too experienced for PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE
• the producer's feature-length film(s) have had a theatrical release and /or a VoD / SVoD / DVD / TV release outside of the production countries involved
• the producer has had a feature-length film screened in the international section at a major festival
• the producer's feature-length film was awarded Best Film in the producer's home country, i.e. the recipient of a national film award
• the producer has a strong project suitable for an international co-production

Producers interested in participating in PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE 2020, should contact their national film promotion institutes (EFP's member organisations) by 5 March, 2020.

With the support of

EFP (European Film Promotion) is an international network of film promotion institutes from 37 countries from throughout Europe, each representing their national films and talent abroad. Under the EFP flag, these organisations team up to jointly promote the diversity and spirit of European cinema and talent at key film festivals and markets, in particular outside of Europe.

EFP is financially supported by the Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union and by its member organisations. The Hamburg-based office is backed by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and the Ministry of Culture of the City of Hamburg.