Berlin: Norway named 'Country in Focus' for 2019 EFM

Norway has been announced as the ‘Country in Focus’ at the 2019 European Film Market of the 69^th Berlin International Film Festival.

The programme will offer networking opportunities with Norwegian producers, distributors, investors and creative talents, and will spotlight Norwegian productions. Supported by the Norwegian Film Institute against a background of a German-Norwegian partnership, the aim is to augment the exchange between the two countries across culture, business, science and technology.

Berlin festival director Dieter Kosslick, who will step down after the 2019 event, noted the “long tradition” of Norwegian cinema at the Berlinale, and said he looks forward “to strengthening [our] cooperation with Norway.”

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Norwegian Minister of Culture Ms. Trine Skei Grande said she was “enthusiastic about this opportunity to present and promote both Norwegian films, and Norwegian arts and culture in general”.

EFM Director Matthis Wouter Knol also recognised the longstanding relationship between Norway and Berlin, describing the country’s presence as “crucial” to the Market’s development.

Eleven Norwegian productions or co-productions screened at this year’s Berlinale, including Erik Poppe’s Competition title U-July 22 which depicts the 2011 Utoya massacre through the experience of victims and survivors (reviewed here by Screen).

This year’s ‘County in Focus’ was Canada.