European Cinema Takes Center Stage at Busan International Film Festival
The Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) will feature a record number of European films this year, with a total of 39 European companies participating. This is an increase from last year and highlights the growing presence of European cinema in the Asian market.
The European companies will operate under the Europe! Umbrella, a collaboration between European Film Promotion (EFP) and Unifrance. This partnership has been a regular feature at ACFM for years and aims to promote and sell European films in East Asia.
To support the promotion of European cinema at the market, EFP is awarding Film Sales Support (FSS) to 10 sales companies. The FSS will enhance their digital and physical marketing campaigns and help them connect with potential buyers. The companies benefitting from the support include Alpha Violet, Fandango, Film Factory Entertainment, Films Boutique, Indie Sales, Kinology, Latido Films, LevelK, Pulsar Content, and TrustNordisk.
Some of the European films being showcased at the festival include “The Beast” by Bertrand Bonello, “The Peasants” by D.K. and Hugh Welchman, and “The Promised Land” by Nikolaj Arcel. These films represent a new wave of filmmakers and highlight the diversity and quality of European cinema.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will also host the annual Europe! cocktail party, where European talents will introduce their films in person. Directors such as Bertrand Bonello, Luc Besson, and Alain Parroni, as well as lead actors Raphaël Thiéry and Ivan Pribicevic, are expected to attend.
The inclusion of a large number of European films in the festival program is a testament to the growing international appeal of European cinema. The festival and market provide valuable platforms for promoting European films outside of Europe and attract a passionate audience in the region.
The Film Sales Support was made possible through the support of national film promotion institutes such as Cinecittà , Czech Film Centre, Danish Film Institute, ICAA (Spain), National Film Institute Hungary, Swedish Film Institute, and Unifrance. The Europe! Umbrella and FSS initiatives are supported by Creative Europe MEDIA of the European Union, with financial contributions from EFP member film promotion institutes German Films and ICAA (Spain).
The ACFM will take place from October 7-10, while the Busan International Film Festival itself will run from October 4-13. With the increased presence of European cinema at the festival, audiences can look forward to a diverse and exciting lineup of films from across the continent.