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MARKETS Italy

The Business Street: between good business and disappointment

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- Limited in its success due to a change in dates imposed by AFM, the Rome Festival was also widely praised

Greatly handicapped by the change in dates it underwent, imposed by the American Film Market, The Business Street left some unsatisfied, but also received much praise.

The postponement came across to many as propitious, “a business opportunity before Berlin,” and “an important moment to see all those important people from a fortnight before at the AFM again, as well as those who weren’t around in Los Angeles.”

The data provided by director of Rome’s Cinema Foundation, Lamberto Mancini, at the end of the festival showed a drop in accredited participants (from 820 last year to 700) which was especially true for foreign attendees (from 350 to 300). Special guests were 150 this year, compared to 190 last, with a matching drop in buyers (from 260 to 190). While sellers were around the same level (90 compared to 92), only 110 projections occurred (compared to 140 in 2011). Market premieres however increased, going from 32 to 42.

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A positive verdict was however given by the New Cinema Network, the efficient market platform through which international projects and producers find concrete opportunities for financial development. In this seventh edition, NCN involved 280 people from the sector, 140 of which were international producers and 20 were directors, all coming from over 30 different countries. More than 900 meetings took place over three days, focusing on 20 selected projects.

Recognising the New Cinema Network’s weight for the third year running in terms of being one of the most effective markets for European co-production, Eurimages gave the NCN 2012 jury the responsibility of giving out the Eurimages Co-production Development Award, worth €30,000 and meant to go towards the development of the best project. This year, the award was given to Mordogan by German Jessica Krummacher.

Among the main deals made by The Business Street, which Cineuropa is able to confirm, are No by Pablo Larraín, sold by Funny Balloons to Cinefil for Hungary; Bullet to the Headby Walter Hill sold by IM Global for South Korea (EnterMode Corp.); A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III by Roman Coppola sold by Independent for Denmark (Smile); Cesare deve morire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
film profile
]
by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, sold by Rai Trade to Zeta Audiovisual for Argentina. Rai Trade also sold the rights to The Day of the Siege [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Renzo Martinelli for Japan. On Cinetic International’s list was in competition film The Motel Life by Gabriel and Alan Polsky, bought by Bir Film for Turkey. The Austria Film Commission was also present with The Wall [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Julian Roman Pölsler, sold for Switzerland to Filmcoopi Zürich AG. Bf Distribution bought Take This Waltz by Sarah Polley for Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

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(Translated from Italian)

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