European Work in Progress Cologne enters its second round

After last year‘s success of the initial edition, European Work in Progress Cologne (EWIP) is receiving great resonance again in 2019: More projects were submitted and numerous prestigious world sales companies, film distributors as well as festival representatives have already confirmed their attendance such as BAC Films, Beta Cinema, Fortissimo Films, The Match Factory, Pluto Film, Wild Bunch, Imagine Film Distribution, Storytelling Media, Teodora Film as well as delegates from Berlinale, Locarno Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. European Work in Progress Cologne takes place from October 14-16, 2019 during the Film Festival Cologne.

With approximately 150 projects, the number of submitted projects is significantly higher compared to the previous year. The projects are more diverse and also more international. All in all, 59 countries are involved in the projects. 37 of these countries are European and 22 are Asian, African or South American.

European Work in Progress Cologne is mainly supported by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, one of Europe’s leading film funding institutions, and hosted by AG Verleih, the association of German independent film distributors.

“The great response to European Work in Progress Cologne shows that our joint initiative came at the right time! The extension to documentary films, which are particularly strong in North-Rhine-Westphalia, was the next logical step” says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. “All participating industry representatives can look forward to inspiring and creatively convincing projects! Last year’s films have already achieved noticeable success. Due to the support of EWIP, ‘End of Season’ was able to finalize its post-production and later received the FIPRESCI-Award at this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam. ‘Easy Love’ was the opening film of the 'Perspektive Deutsches Kino' section at the Berlinale. ‘Unconditional’ had its world premiere on the Piazza Grande in Locarno, and the Coppa Volpi for Best Actor in Venice just went to the lead actor from 'Martin Eden’. We wish all the creative minds presenting their projects in 2019 that same kind of success."

Around 25 projects in post-production will be carefully selected and presented in pitching sessions to a circle of experienced professionals. The aim is to find partners for the international distribution and to foster the exposure of European high-profile arthouse cinema. European Work in Progress Cologne creates a productive space in which industry experts come together to develop collaboration opportunities.

The jury comprised of Lili Hinstin, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, Margrit Stärk, Director of Acquisitions for Feature Films at ZDF Enterprises, Sabina Kodra, the co-founder of the Albanian film production company ERAFILM as well as Yohann Comte, Sales Agent and co-founder of the world sales agency Charades in France, will acknowledge the winners with prizes worth around 45.000 EUR including post-production services as well as international festival publicity. Award Sponsors are ARRI Media, K13-Studios, Eclair, LAVAlabs Moving Images and ZOOM Medienfabrik.

In addition to one-to-one meetings, various panel discussions on effective exploitation patterns and new release strategies in cooperation with Creative Europe Desks Germany and in partnership with EAVE will accompany this year’s program.

The list of accredited attendees is respectable as well: Over 50 representatives of international distributors, world sales companies, film festivals and other industry delegates will once more turn European Work in Progress Cologne into an exciting hub to connect, to network and to exchange ideas.

Apart from feature and animation films, documentaries were also considered this year. The focus of the platform will, however, remain on narrative films.

Accreditation is open until October 3, 2019. Please find more information on the website: www.european-work-in-progress.eu

For all your enquiries please do not hesitate and contact the team or the press agency.