European Film Commission Network

Malaga Film Office

Malaga Film OfficeMALAGA FILM OFFICE is assisting the prestigious Cannes Lions Advertising Festival this week with the mission to promote Malaga as a film location for commercials. This Festival is running from the 15th to 21st of June and is world famous for the large number of advertising competition sections, seminars, workshops & master classes that are held, as well as the non-stop negotiations that take place between Advertising Agencies, Production Companies & Film Commissions during these dates. Malaga Film Office’s agenda while assisting Cannes Lions includes various appointments with the intention to create new contacts and attract future productions to our city by way of our wide variety of locations, free services, bilingual crews, well-developed infrastructure & excellent worldwide connections.
Further to the Cannes Lions Festival, Malaga Film Office will also travel to the Ischia Film Festival which is to be held later this month from the 23rd to 29th of June in order to attend the first ‘Product Placement Workshop’. This market study will cover the results obtained from a growing market within the private sector that is gaining the interest of local public organisations as a valuable tool for creating links between local private commercial industries and film production.

 For more information;

Malaga Film Office: www.malagafilmoffice.com
Cannes Lions Advertising Festival: www.canneslions.com
Ischia Film Festival: www.ischiafilmfestival.it

EUFCN booth in Cannes

For the first time, the EUFCN was present in Cannes with an own booth. The association offered its members to share a stand located at the so called Village International - Pantiero, next to the French regions pavilions. This was a great achievement since it is highly difficult to find new venues at the Cannes film market.

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 June 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.

EUFCN in Cannes 2008

European Film Commission Network will be in Cannes with a large stand and terrace at the International Village Pantiero. In our booth you can find information about our members and partners. Come visit us and enjoy a welcome beverage.
EUFCN stand address:
Pavilion 207
Festival de Cannes / Village International - Pantiero
Esplanade Pantiero – Promenade de la Pantiero
06400 Cannes
France
Contact : Patrick Lamassoure – tel. +33 6 86 40 16 53

(for members only)
The next EUFCN meeting will be during the Cannes Film Festival on
Tuesday, May 20th 2008, from 09:30h
Palais Stephanie (former Noga Hilton Hotel ) on the Croisette
"La scala" hall -1st floor

Download Map

EUFCN in Monaco

The first public appearance of  EUFCN took place in March 6-8, 2008 in Monte Carlo, during the “Forum International - Cinema & Litterature.” The President Arie Bohrer, the General Secretary Patrick Lamassoure and Board members Giorgio Fossati and Andrea Rocco were invited to participate in a round table entitled “Shooting: is Europe competitive?”.