07/08/2013 - Nadia Dresti, Delegate of the Artistic Direction and Head of International, talks about the initiatives, issues and interesting film countries at the 66th Locarno Film Festival

At the Locarno film festival, the Industry Home Base will be located in the Rialto Cinema for the first time. “This is the place where buyers, sellers and programmers will be spending most of their time screening and discussing films with their peers“, says Nadia Dresti, Delegate of the Artistic Direction and Head of International. “Our team will thus be closer to its guests to provide them with any useful information, recommendations and contribute to the networking taking place between professionals.”

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Cineuropa: What can the industry participants expect from the Step In initiative? 
Nadia Dresti: Besides being offered an updated overview of the Russian market, European industry professionals will be able to participate in interdisciplinary working groups and discuss concrete challenges and problems they face whilst selling, distributing, and exhibiting the author films we support in Locarno. This initiative should improve the dialogue and collaboration between sales agents, distributors, and exhibitors (as well as with new distribution platforms) and serve as an inspiring brainstorming space to come up with new ideas to increase the circulation of films in Europe, as well as in some key non-EU countries.

What are the most relevant issues?
The main topics of discussion have been chosen in close cooperation with Europa International, Europa Distribution and Europa Cinemas to make sure we address issues of strong importance to professionals. They will range from analysing the evolution of market trends in Eastern and Central Europe, best practices in sales, distribution and promotion, new distribution and marketing models such as day-and-date releases and transversal marketing, anti-piracy strategies, comparing all these European market trends and issues with some key non-EU countries such as the USA.

The Carte Blanche features Chilean films in post-production. What makes this film country so interesting?
In the last year, Chile's output of quality films has increased enormously. The past editions of Cannes and Berlin and the upcoming Venice Film Festival prove that Chilean films are very strong. 
Carte Blanche will screen seven films in post-production. Each film will be introduced by its producer and director to the various international sales agents, distributors and festival programmers in order to facilitate post-production and sales partnerships. A three-person industry professional jury will select the best film that will receive a cash prize to support the completion of the film. We saw 30 films in post-production, we selected seven. The selection is very varied and representative of the country, its culture, its political past and its present. Most of the films are fiction but we have also chosen two documentaries and the filmmakers employ simple and innovative ways to tell stories about every-day life.In Piazza Grande we will show Gloria by Sebastián Lelio, who was in competition in 2011 with El Año del Tigre. Juan de Dios Larraín, producer of both titles, is a member of our official jury. In my opinion, Chile is a very prolific film country given that there was close to no industry only 15 years ago.

What is the main advantage of the new partnership with Europa Cinemas?
The Industry Office exists to support the life of a film from its premiere in Locarno to the widest audience possible. Our European partners are key players in the chain that brings author films to the public. Besides being a great partner for Industry Days and the Step In initiative, we are very pleased that Europa Cinemas has chosen Locarno for its prestigious Europa Cinemas Label, rewarding the Best European Film from the Concorso Internazionale and Concorso Cineasti del presente sections. The winner will receive promotional support and the Europa Cinemas Network will grant incentives to exhibitors to extend the film's run on screen. Another important partner is the MEDIA programme which has been supporting the Industry Days since 2012.