NEWS
Steven Soderbergh filming in Barcelona
The Barcelona-Catalunya Film Commission collaborates on Steven Soderbergh’s last film which is beeing shot in Barcelona.
Steven Soderbergh filming in Barcelona
The Experiences of Film Location Tourists
Within the last decade film-induced tourism has gained increasing attention from academics and the industry alike. While most research has focused on the tourism-inducing effects of film productions, not much has been written about the film location tourists themselves.
EUFCN News January 2010
Please find bellow the latest news from the Board.
EuFCN at Berlinale 2010
The European Film Commissions Network (EuFCN) is currently representing 73 members from 21 European countries. Those interested in learning more about EuFCN are invited to stop by and visit the representatives of the EuFCN at the MEDIA Programme's umbrella stand at the European Film Market, Martin-Gropius-Bau.
EUFCN Elects New Board of Directors
The association's 3rd general assembly took place on November 20th, 2009 in the city hall of Brussels. It included the 2nd elections of the board of directors.
EuFCN Press Statement 26.11.2009
EUFCN at Location Expo SILE
Film & Tourism - Marseille, June 2009
Please find bellow the summary of the very interesting conference on film and tourism held in Marseille in June 2009.
Marseilles Summary Record by Atout France and Film France
EuFCN will extend its activities in 2009
The European Film Commissions Network today held its general meeting at the Sevilla European Film Festival, thanks to the hospitality of the Andalucia Film Commission. This young association, created in 2007, observes a fast growing activity and now gathers 64 film commissions based in 21 European countries.
In an effort to raise filmmakers’ awareness about film commissions’ services and allow its members to participate in important film related events, the EUFCN has already created European presence in international film markets such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco international forum of cinema and literature and the Tokyo TIFFCOM.
Dealing with Indian productions
Set in one of the very last days of the festival, the sharing experience session about Indian shoots nevertheless gathered 7 European film commissioners. Some of them have already dealt with Indian films; some wanted to know more about these productions.
Common issues noted by several members were the Schengen visas, sometimes difficult to obtain for the Indian crew, as well as the time factor: Indians don’t feel the same urge of planning we Europeans do. Other topics discussed were their demands in term of food, and the need to hire line producers who are especially knowledgeable of all the cultural differences.
Several attending film commissioners agreed it could be useful for EuFCN members to share information about the best tools and contacts available to check the background of the producers contacting us, which is not easy: There are at least six different movie industries in India, each shooting in its language, sometimes several producers’ organizations which often don't have a directory website.
In conclusion, we all agreed that the “How to deal with India” issue is definitively worth a session during the next EuFCN conference.
EuFCN meeting in Cannes
On Tuesday, May 20th, the European film commissioners gathered in the CineCitta club for an informal encounter. 40 members attended the meeting, out of the total 60 members (from 20 European countries) belonging to the association.
President Arie Bohrer and the Board of Directors presented the current results of the EUFCN activities. As for the first half of 2008, the EUFCN attended the Monaco International Forum of Cinema & Literature, where it hosted a booth in the market, and participated at a panel discussion about filming in Europe.
This year, the EUFCN was also present in Cannes with an own booth at the Village International - Pantiero.
In the fall, members will gather for the 2nd general assembly. Location to be confirmed.
Film and Tourism
If someone was still wondering if and why it’s useful to join an association like EUFCN, the experience-sharing session about co-operation of film commissions and tourism boards held in Cannes on May 19th, should have convinced them.
The expert-testimonial invited to attend the session was Richard Bower who is in charge of movie & tourism relationships at the Marseille Chamber of Commerce.
Relationships between tourism and the film (or audiovisual at large) industry provide great challenges as well as opportunities. The anecdotic evidence of the advantages, in touristic terms, of a TV or film productions which are under way in a certain place, is well-known. Media attention is often focused on the shooting and the stars involved. Local politicians (often the same who support the film commissions) enjoy the visibility and added business which the filming brings for their communities. The problems are basically about how to maximize the benefits of movie-induced tourism and how to minimize the disadvantages. Richard Bower has focused on the skills and know-how required to take advantage of the opportunities offered by movies to the tourism industry.
Av. Michel Ange 68, B-1000 Bruxelles