Interview: Caterina Mazzucato • Head of Industry, Bio to B - Industry Days | Doc&Drama - “The Documentary Film Sector...
The thirteenth Bio to B Industry Days Doc convened in Bologna, presenting more than 30 documentary projects at various development stages and drawing over 500 professionals. The event’s Drama strand, now in its fifth edition, links roughly 150 operators—editors, literary agents, and audiovisual producers—to facilitate rights trading and adaptations. Organisers highlighted a sector‑wide crisis, blaming recent Italian tax‑credit reforms for privileging large players and squeezing smaller producers. Caterina Mazzucato stressed diversification as essential for sustaining growth amid funding uncertainty.
Review: Tough Love - Biografilm 2026
Valerio Bonelli, a veteran Italian editor based in London, makes his directorial debut with the documentary *Tough Love* at the Biografilm festival. The film weaves Super 8 family home‑videos and contemporary interviews to portray four sisters navigating a patriarchal, post‑war Naples...
Spain to Be the Country of Honour at the Les Arcs Film Festival in December - Les Arcs 2026
The 18th Les Arcs Film Festival, running 12‑19 December 2026, will spotlight Spain as its country of honour, showcasing the nation’s robust output after a standout Cannes showing with three competition entries and fifteen films overall. The festival’s Industry Village will...
The Guest to Vie for the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary - Production / Funding - Denmark
Mads Mengel’s debut feature *The Guest* will world‑premiere in the Crystal Globe Competition at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, marking the first Danish entry in the main competition in more than ten years. The family drama follows a weekend...
Hijamat Set to World-Premiere in Karlovy Vary’s Crystal Globe Competition - Production / Funding - Germany/Turkey
Iranian filmmaker Nader Saeivar’s fourth feature, *Hijamat*, will debut in the Crystal Globe Competition at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 3‑11). The drama follows Kerem, a gay man whose secret relationship is exposed within a devout Muslim...
Review: Skateboarding Is Not for Girls - Tribeca 2026
“Skateboarding Is Not for Girls” premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival in the International Narrative Competition. Directed by Macedonian filmmaker Dina Duma, the drama follows 11‑year‑old Adela and her older sister Zara in Skopje as Zara faces a forced...
Review: Women of Sin - Doxumentale 2026
Noufissa Charaï’s documentary *Women of Sin* follows Moroccan activist Karima Nadir as she battles the country’s restrictive Family Code and penal article 490, which criminalises extramarital sex. The film, premiered at Berlin’s Doxumentale, intertwines Nadir’s personal life with her public advocacy, highlighting protests,...
The Biarritz Film Festival - Nouvelles Vagues Reveals Its Line-Up - Festivals / Awards - France
The 4th Biarritz Film Festival – Nouvelles Vagues runs June 23‑28, featuring a competition for eight feature films judged by a jury led by Kristen Stewart. The slate includes Cannes Critics’ Week winner La Gradiva, Berlin FIPRESCI prize‑winner Animol, and Sundance‑competing Big Girls Don’t Cry, alongside high‑profile...
Interview: Vladimir Kokh • Distributor, KMBO - “It’s Really About the Discovery of Auteurs and Markets” - Distributor of the...
KMBO, a French distributor with a 20‑year history, balances commercial family animation, arthouse animation, and live‑action films, recently acquiring historic animation house Gebeka to broaden its kids‑focused slate. The deal preserves Gebeka’s brand and team while giving KMBO two distinct...
Episode 90: Strange River (Spain/Germany) - The Co-Production Podcast
Episode 90 of the Co‑production Podcast, a joint venture between Cineuropa and Eurimages, features producers Xavi Font of ZuZú Cinema and Sophie Ahrens of Schuldenberg Films discussing the Spanish‑German film *Strange River*. The conversation highlights how Eurimages financing and bilateral...
EXCLUSIVE: Filming Imminent on Siegrid Alnoy’s L’Amour Du Prochain - Production / Funding - France/Malta
Filming for Siegrid Alnoy’s second feature, L’Amour du prochain, kicks off on June 22, 2026. The drama stars Nicolas Maury, Céline Sallette and Ladi Emeruwa and is a co‑production between France’s Eaux Vives Productions and Maltese firms Falkun Films and...
The 41st Cinema Jove Revs Its Engines - Cinema Jove 2026
Spain’s Valencia International Film Festival, Cinema Jove, announced its 41st edition running June 19‑27, 2026 under new director María Albiñana. The nine‑film Official Feature competition opens with Sweden’s satirical thriller “The Patron” by Julia Thelin and includes Berlinale‑selected titles from...
Karlovy Vary Unveils a Kaleidoscopic Competition Line-Up for Its Jubilee 60th Edition - Karlovy Vary 2026
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) celebrates its 60th edition and the 80th anniversary of its inaugural season, running 3‑11 July 2026 in the Czech spa town. The Crystal Globe Competition showcases 12 world‑premiering titles from Central and Eastern Europe, Latin...
The Visitor Scoops the Top Prize at Lithuania’s Silver Crane Awards - Festivals / Awards - Lithuania
Lithuania’s Silver Crane Awards crowned Vytautas Katkus’s debut feature, The Visitor, with Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. The film also earned Katkus a Best Cinematographer award for his work on Holy Destructors, which walked away with four...
German Cinema Attendance Rebounded in 2025, Driven by Older Audiences and Local Productions - Industry / Market - Germany
Germany’s cinema market rebounded in 2025, with attendance up 8% to 23.4 million people – about 31% of the population – and box‑office revenue rising to €921 million (≈$1.01 billion). The growth stemmed from an expanding audience base rather than higher visit frequency,...
Sound of Falling Cleans up at Germany’s Lola Awards - Festivals / Awards - Germany
At the 76th German Film Awards (Lola Awards) in Berlin, Mascha Schilinski’s Cannes‑Jury‑prize winner *Sound of Falling* dominated, capturing ten of its eleven nominations, including the Golden Lola for Best Feature Film, Best Director, Screenplay and Cinematography. *Yellow Letters* earned the Silver...
Interview: Nuno Bernardo • Head of Studies, IP Development for Creative Professionals, Erich Pommer Institut - “If We Want European...
The Erich Pommer Institut is debuting a three‑day residential workshop, "IP Development for Creative Professionals," scheduled for 17‑19 September in Potsdam. Led by Emmy‑nominated producer Nuno Bernardo, the program teaches European filmmakers, game developers, publishers and licensing experts how to own...
The European Audiovisual Observatory Maps the Power of Fiscal Incentives and Cash Rebates in Audiovisual Production - Industry / Market...
The European Audiovisual Observatory released a report mapping more than 120 tax‑credit, cash‑rebate and tax‑shelter schemes that now underpin global screen production. It argues that fiscal incentives have evolved from peripheral tools into structural pillars that drive where films and...
Actor Pedro Casablanc Makes the Leap to Directing with The King’s Tailor - Production / Funding - Spain/Mexico
Actor‑director Pedro Casablanc launches his first feature, *The King’s Tailor*, set in 1960s Casablanca. The drama‑thriller follows a boy in a tailor’s shop who uncovers adult secrets amid political tension. The film boasts a high‑profile cast—including Jesús Carroza, Natalia de Molina and a...
Review: Amongst the Birds - Films / Reviews - Iceland
"Amongst the Birds" is a charming Icelandic documentary that follows a retired couple, Óli and Jóhanna, as they nurture a massive eider duck colony in a remote East‑Iceland fjord. Over three years of filming, directors Mika Kaurismäki, Ragnar Axelsson and...
Episode 89: Romería (Spain/Germany) - The Co-Production Podcast
The Co‑production Podcast’s 89th episode features producers María Zamora and Olimpia Pont Cháfer discussing the Spain‑Germany co‑production of Carla Simón’s film Romería, which was supported by Eurimages. Hosted by Cineuropa director Valerio Caruso, the conversation explores financing strategies, cross‑border collaboration, and...
Filming Is Nearing Completion on Sandrine Kiberlain’s Les Quatre Rendez-Vous De Françoise - Production / Funding - France
Filming is in its final stage for Sandrine Kiberlain’s second directorial feature, *Les quatre rendez‑vous de Françoise*, which began on 15 April and will wrap on 2 June 2026. The drama follows an actress named Françoise through four pivotal love‑seeking moments in...
Sunset and The Thing to Be Done Crowned as Beldocs’ Champions - Beldocs 2026 – Awards
The 19th Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival in Belgrade screened over 100 titles and introduced a new short‑film slate called Day 0. Srđan Kovačević’s *The Thing to Be Done* won the International Competition, taking a €2,000 prize (≈ $2,200). Miloš Jaćimović’s *Sunset* captured Best Serbian Film, while Ivana Todorović’s...
Velasco Broca Shooting His Feature Debut, The Next Testament - Production / Funding - Spain/Estonia/Italy
Velasco Broca’s feature debut, *The Next Testament*, started filming on May 21 in Madrid, starring Goya‑nominated Álex Brendemühl alongside Mireia Oriol and Ariadna Gil. The 35 mm picture weaves gothic and retro‑futurist imagery around a plot where a missing song chorus triggers...
Review: Mata - Films / Reviews - France/Belgium
Rachel Lang’s third feature, Mata, marks a bold shift from arthouse drama to spy thriller, debuting on May 27 in France (Warner Bros) and Belgium (Imagine). The film follows DGSE operative Mata, played by Eye Haïdara, as she returns wounded from a covert Niger mission...
Goodfellas Wins the Sales Race at Cannes - Cannes 2026 – Marché Du Film
Goodfellas clinched the Palme d’Or for Cristian Mungiu’s *Fjord*, cementing its position as Cannes 2026’s top‑quality sales house. The German firm The Match Factory, now owned by MUBI, led the awards tally with three official‑competition honors, including Best Director and Jury Prize. French distributor mk2...
Interview: Viesturs Kairišs • Director of Ulya - "Everyone Has an Inner Freak, and the Film Tries to Understand How...
Latvian director Viesturs Kairišs’s biopic *Ulya* about basketball legend Uļjana Semjonova has been selected for Cannes 2026’s Un Certain Regard section. The film, starring Kārlis Arnolds Avots, blends a coming‑of‑age narrative with a poetic exploration of identity, difference, and belonging. Kairišs discusses his fascination with...
Latvia and France Sign Bilateral Film Co-Production Pact in Cannes - Cannes 2026 – Marché Du Film
Latvia and France signed an indefinite bilateral film co‑production pact at Cannes 2026, aiming to deepen audiovisual ties and streamline financing, talent exchange, and market access. The agreement follows the global breakout of the Oscar‑winning animated feature *Flow*, the most...
Interview: Sébastien Laudenbach • Director of Viva Carmen - “Life Is Violent and Kids Are Violent, and They Like to...
French animator Sébastien Laudenbach’s second Cannes appearance comes with *Viva Carmen*, an animated retelling of Bizet’s opera presented in the Directors’ Fortnight. The film is deliberately crafted for children—not by diluting the story, but by making it “accessible” and challenging, preserving the...
Interview: Rakan Mayasi • Director of Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep - “I Didn’t Want My Actors to Act; I...
Brussels‑based Palestinian director Rakan Mayasi debuted his feature Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep in Cannes 2026’s Un Certain Regard. The film is a “non‑fictional fiction” that forgoes a traditional script, using real villagers from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to portray two sisters caught...
Interview: Hélène Rosselet-Ruiz • Director of Madame - “This Film Is a Reflection on My Own Experiences of Class-Based Violence"...
French filmmaker Hélène Rosselet‑Ruiz premiered her debut feature *Madame* as a Special Screening at Cannes 2026, drawing on a summer she spent cleaning for a wealthy Saudi household. The film uses a real Parisian mansion and pervasive CCTV to explore power, class‑based...
Interview: Nicolas Winding Refn • Director of Her Private Hell - “The Film Is an Algorithm that Is Everything I...
Nicolas Winding Refn premiered his latest feature, Her Private Hell, out of competition at Cannes 2026, marking his fourth consecutive Croisette opening since Drive. He described the film as an "algorithm app" called byNWR, a personal blend of neon‑lit aesthetics...
Review: A Man of His Time - Cannes 2026 - Competition
Emmanuel Marre’s historical drama *A Man of His Time* opened the competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, portraying a Vichy civil‑servant who climbs the bureaucratic ladder during World War II. Swann Arlaud leads as Henri Marre, a careerist whose ambition collides...
Review: Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building - Cannes 2026 – Critics’ Week
Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building, directed by Bruno Santamaría Razo, debuted in Cannes 2026’s Critics’ Week. The autobiographical film follows 11‑year‑old Bruno in 1990s Mexico City as his father receives an HIV diagnosis, intertwining the boy’s emerging homosexuality with...
Interview: Vincent Garenq • Director of Forsaken - “We Wanted to Make a Film that Reflects France, Featuring Actors From...
Vincent Garenq’s drama *Forsaken* opened Cannes 2026 out of competition, revisiting the 2020 murder of French teacher Samuel Paty. The film uses a tight eleven‑day school setting and restrained visuals to convey the tragedy without graphic gore. Garenq deliberately targeted young...
REPORT: Adelaide Goes to Cannes 2026 - Cannes 2026 – Marché Du Film
Australia’s Adelaide Film Festival presented five works‑in‑progress at Cannes’ Marché du Film under the “Adelaide Goes to Cannes” program. The slate includes documentaries on Ecuadorian indigenous resistance and Ukrainian war trauma, plus narrative dramas exploring father‑daughter journeys, survival in the Victorian high country,...
EXCLUSIVE: Luminalia Boards World Sales on Sofía Quirós Úbeda’s Sophomore Feature, Silent Birds - Production / Funding - Costa Rica/Argentina/Brazil/Spain/Norway/France
Italian sales agency Luminalia has acquired worldwide sales rights for Silent Birds, the second feature by Costa‑Rican‑Argentinian director Sofía Quirós Úbeda. The film, a co‑production among companies in Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Norway and France, follows an eight‑year‑old boy...
The Council of Europe Expands Series Co-Production Programme with New Partnerships and Cultural Initiatives - Industry / Market - Europe
On May 13, 2026, the Council of Europe announced the 2026 edition of its Pilot Programme for Series Co‑Productions, expanding its remit to include professional training, animation, and projects that examine the societal impact of serial storytelling. The programme introduces...
Review: The Electric Kiss - Cannes 2026 – Out of Competition
Pierre Salvadori’s new period romantic comedy, The Electric Kiss, opened the 79th Cannes Film Festival out of competition. Set in 1928 Paris, the film follows fairground performer Suzanne (Anaïs Demoustier) who pretends to be a medium for a grieving painter, weaving art, deception and...
The Announcements Made at Cannes' Marché Du Film - Cannes 2026 - Marché Du Film
At Cannes’ Marché du Film, several high‑profile projects secured financing and sales. Yann Demange announced his new drama Lineage, starring Isabelle Huppert, Dali Benssalah, Adam Bessa and singer‑actress Raye, with UK, French and Belgian producers and US sales handled by...
Interview: Florian Fernandez • Head, Short Film Corner | Rendez-Vous Industry - “We Always Aim to Create Spaces Where Everyone...
The Short Film Corner | Rendez‑vous Industry, part of Cannes’ Cinéma de Demain, ran May 17‑20, 2026, showcasing its established Creative Programmes—Focus SCRIPT, Focus WiP, and Focus COPRO’—which have propelled short films into major festival selections. This year the initiative marked the fifth anniversary of its...
New Europe Film Sales Unveils a Diverse Slate at the Marché Du Film - Cannes 2026 - Marché Du Film
New Europe Film Sales is showcasing a broad slate at Cannes' Marché du Film, headlined by the animated fantasy "Nina and the Goddess of Thunder" and the Irish family animation "Julián". The lineup also includes auteur‑driven titles such as "A...
Review: I Won't Die for Love - Films / Reviews - Spain/Belgium
Marta Matute’s debut feature *I Won’t Die for Love* captured the top prize at the Málaga Film Festival, winning the Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film. The drama also secured Best Actress for Júlia Mascort, Best Supporting Actor for Tomás del Esnal, and...
Interview: Barbara Orlicz, Anita Piotrowska • President and Artistic Director, Krakow Film Festival - “The Krakow Film Festival Aims to...
The Krakow Film Festival, entering its seventh decade, announced Anita Piotrowska as its new artistic director alongside President Barbara Orlicz. The duo pledged to preserve the event’s historic focus on documentaries, shorts and animation while expanding into auteur‑driven, hybrid formats that challenge...
Zlín Film Festival Unveils Competition Titles for Its 66th Edition - Festivals / Awards - Czech Republic
The Zlín Film Festival, the world’s oldest and largest children’s film event, opens its 66th edition (May 28‑June 3) with the world premiere of the Czech family fantasy *When Parents Turn Divine*. The festival also celebrates the 90th anniversary of Zlín Film...
Interview: Danae Spathara • Producer, Heretic - “Positioning a Film Internationally Starts with the Story Itself” - Producers on the...
Greek producer Danae Spathara, Heretic’s representative at Cannes’ Producers on the Move 2026, discussed how she positioned the debut feature *Kyuka – Before Summer’s End* for an international audience. She explained the shift to stop‑motion animation with the upcoming feature...
All (Not) Quiet on the Western Front: NATO Bids to Win over Storytellers - Institutions / Legislation - Europe
NATO has begun a covert outreach to Hollywood, convening screenwriters, producers and directors in Los Angeles, Brussels and Paris, with a fourth meeting slated for London. The sessions, run under the Chatham House Rule and organized through think tanks like CSIS,...
Interview: María Colomer Canyelles • Co-Artistic Director and Head of Programming, DocsBarcelona - “We Are Committed to Challenging Cinema that...
DocsBarcelona’s 29th edition runs May 7‑17, 2026, curated by co‑artistic director María Colomer Canyelles. The lineup pairs human‑centered conflict documentaries with tech‑driven investigations and a Focus section on urban tension, gentrification and identity. Spain contributes heavily, adding a new short‑film competition of eleven titles...
Playtime Handling Six Cannes-Selected Titles - Cannes 2026 – Marché Du Film
French sales agent Playtime is leveraging the Cannes 2026 market with six titles selected across the festival’s Official Selection, Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week. The lineup opens with Pierre Salvadori’s The Electric Kiss, followed by Louis Clichy’s animated debut Iron...
TrustNordisk’s Cannes Slate Spans Prestige Drama, Nordic Genre and DOGMA25 - Cannes 2026 - Marché Du Film
TrustNordisk returned to Cannes’ Marché du Film with a twelve‑title slate that blends award‑season dramas, genre thrillers and high‑concept dramedies. The lineup features Sundance‑premiered *Frank & Louis*, psychological piece *Unraveled*, Nordic genre thriller *Vampyr*, and the first Sámi‑language drama *Brace...