To strengthen relationships
European film festivals and European world sales for better cooperation
11. July 2022
Europa International, the European organisation for international film sales agents, and Europa Film Festivals, a network of 12 European festivals including FILMFEST HAMBURG, have developed a guide aimed at defining functions and good practices to strengthen the relationship between sales and festivals.
After several years of close collaboration, the two networks proudly present the Guide of Good Practices and the Memorandum of Understanding to improve relations between sales agents and festivals. This set of documents has been created with comments and observations from the field from festival programmers and managers. It is thought to help to share good practices and simple tools to ensure transparent and stress-free work relations.
“Sales and festivals are working together on a daily basis, but sometimes a lack of communication may lead to stressful situations. The idea behind the documents was to smoothen the relationship between partners. We need each other, and it is always better when we have a common ground of understanding!” says Alexis Juncosa, artistic director of the Luxembourg City Film Festival and at the start of the project.
From the sales perspective, these documents will give festival managers a ready-made and efficient tool to train junior staff and have a reference for working with festivals from all over the world.
This document was signed on July 8th, 2022, at the Galway Film Fleadh. Signing on behalf of Europa Film Festivals is the chair of the organisation, Alexis Juncosa and Miriam Allen (CEO Galway Film Fleadh); signing on behalf of Europa International is the co-President of the organisation, Katarzyna Siniarska (New Europe Film Sales).
Europe Film Festivals include the following festivals: Athens International Film Festival, Belfast Film Festival, CINEMANIA FILM FESTIVAL, Festival International du Film Indépendant de Bordeaux, Galway Film Fleadh, Geneva International Film Festival, Gijon International Film Festival, Filmfest Hamburg, Luxembourg City Film Festival, Midnight Sun Film Festival, Noordelijk Film Festival, Reykjavik International Film Festival.