Prominent figures from the art world are heading to Rotterdam to rub shoulders with producers and film financiers for the latest CineMart event showcasing “artistic cinema”.

From today (Mon), collectors and gallerists will descend on the Doelen, comparing notes with sales agents and distributors.

Among the high profile guests, IFFR is expecting Andrea Lissoni, curtaor of film at Tate Modern; David Gryn, who works for Art Basel Miami; Haro Cambusyan from Collectorspace Istanbul; and Juliette Jongma, a gallerist from Amsterdam.

There will also be a representative from new Thai sales and distribution company, Mosquito Films Distribution.

There are three projects for them to pore over in detail:

  • Fierté nationale by Sven Augustijnen (Belgium/France)
  • Invention by Mark Lewis (London)
  • Tarda primavera by Michelangelo Frammartino (Italy).

Art:Film is Rotterdam’s ongoing project to support artistic cinema and visual arts. It is a joint endeavor between IFFR/CineMart and Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX.

It aims to “facilitate the financing, marketing, distribution and exhibition of these selected art projects.”

Media consultant Tobias Pausinger, who curates and organizes Art:Film alongside Jacobine van der Vloed, describes today’s event as falling “between panel, case study and workshop think tank”.

“On the one hand, we can discuss the subject matter very widely. On the other, we can be really hands on and learn about projects,” said Pausinger.

“We will never find one way or one scheme to finance those films. It is more about creating a tool set or developing practices that can be combined,” he suggests of the interface between art and film.

This is a venture that has already spilled beyond film festival boundaries. Last autumn, Art:Film organized its very own “Think Tank” at Frieze London Art Fair.

Last year, there were five Art:Film projects showcased in CineMart. One of them, La Distancia by Sergio Caballero, is already completed and screening in this year’s festival.

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