EFM claims 15% increase in 2012 attendance; first-time initiatives well-received.

The European Film Market (EFM) is touting its strongest year to date, with close to 8,000 participants in 2012, equating to a 15% increase in attendance.

1,739 buyers attended the market, while 760 films – of which 31 were 3D – made up the 1,138 screenings in the 39 EFM screening venues, among them close to 600 market premieres.

New initiatives included the American Independents in Berlin lounge in the Martin-Gropius-Bau, Sundance at EFM, IFP Selects while Meet the Docs, in cooperation with the European Documentary Network, was newly positioned in the Martin-Gropius-Bau and there were daily sessions Meet the Distributors and Meet the Festivals in the lounge.

IFA Berlin partnered with the market on Industry Debates for the first time and also introduced a crossmedia event.

German Cinema – LOLA@Berlinale was run in cooperation with the German Film Academy and German Films and presented films long-listed for a German Film Prize nomination.

“We are extremely satisfied with this year’s Market”, the EFM’s director Beki Probst said. “Our industry participants are reporting a very productive EFM with interesting projects and new business contacts.”

Content was generally well-received this year, with numerous sales on major US titles such as 2 Guns, The Hunger Games and The Tomb among others, as well as decent interest in Competition entries such as Barbara, Caesar Must Die and A Royal Affair.

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