29/03/2006

The Europa Distribution programme, the first European network of independent distributors, is presided over by filmmaker Robert Guédiguian and will bring together fifty European companies.

The board members include Kirsten Dalgaard (Camera Film, Denmark), Régine Vial (Les Films du Losange , France), Eliane Dubois (Cinéart-Cinélibre, Belgium), Andrea Occhipinti (Lucky Red, Italy), Enrique Gonzales Kuhn (Alta Films-Alta Classics, Spain), Age Hoffart (Oro Film, Norway), Fabienne Vonier (Pyramide Distribution, France), Fabien Arseguel (Alamode Film, Germany), Marcin Piasecki (Kino Świat, Poland), Monika Weibel (Frenetic Films, Switzerland) and Robert Beeson (Artificial Eye, UK).

The founders of Europa Distribution are off to a shaky start, with cinema diversity being threatened on the Old Continent. Independent distributors have experienced a marked decline in admissions, the proliferation in the number of films and prints, a shortened theatrical run for more fragile films, the growing vertical and horizontal concentration of television broadcasters’ distribution power, as well as links formed between certain national companies and US studios.

The consequence of this is an immense increase in the cost of releases, which in turn weakens the power of independent producers who have limited resources, yet their films require sustained promotion because of their fragility. However, without independent distributors, there would be neither independent productions nor diversity. Moreover, the transition towards digital exhibition may widen this gap.

Holding the view that the survival of the diversity of European cinema is at stake, the founders of Europa Distribution are hoping to forge direct links on a European scale in order to improve the circulation of films and information, while working on common actions, by using the Europa Cinemas network in particular. This union is up and running as more than 50 companies have already said they are interested in this new regrouping.

List of independent distributors supporting Europa Distribution:

Germany
Alamode Film - Fabien Arseguel
Arsenal Filmverleih - Egon Nieser
Peripher Filmverleih - Barbara Suhren & Harald Ringel
Pandora - Reinhard Brundig
Movienet Film - Lothar Seelandt

Austria
Filmladen - Michael Stejskal
Polyfilm - Hans Koenig

Belgium
Cineart-Cinelibre - Eliane Dubois, Stéphane de Potter
Lumière - Jan de Clerq
Abc Distribution - Chantal Krakowski

Denmark
Camera Films - Kirsten Dalgaard
Sunrise Film Distribution - Peter Bendtsen

Spain
Alta Films - Enrique Gonzales Kuhn
Notro Films - Adolfo Blanco Lucas
Vertigo Films - Andres Martin
Wanda Vision - Jose Maria Morales
Filmax - Carlos Fernandez

Greece
Audiovisual SA - Takis Veremis
PCV SA - Peggy Carajopoulou-Vavali

The Netherlands
A-Film Distribution - San Fu Maltha
Cinemien - Nicolaine de Breejen

Hungary
Mokép Co. - Gyorgy Horvath

Italy
Lucky Red - Andrea Occhipinti
BIM Distribuzione - Valerio de Paolis
Mikado - Luigi Musini

Norway
Oro Films - Age Hoffart
Action Film - Tore Erlandsen
Arthaus - Svend Jensen
AS Fidalgo - Frank Stavik

Poland
Kinoswiat - Marcin Piasecki

Portugal
Lnk Audiovisuals - Luis Froes

United Kingdom
Artificial Eye - Robert Beeson
Momentum Pictures - Sam Nichols
Soda Pictures - Edward Fletcher

Sweden
Non Stop Entertainment - Jakob Abrahamsson, Ignas Scheynius
Folkets Bio - Marie Booberg

Switzerland
Frenetic - Monika Weibel
Filmcoopi Zürich - Felix Hächler
Agora Films - Michel Buhler - Laurent Dutoit
Cineworx - Thomas Schmutz

Turkey
Chantier Films - Metin Anter
Pi Film - Ceytan Tufan

France
Bac Films - Jean Labadie
Diaphana Distribution - Michel Saint-Jean
Haut et Court - Carole Scotta
ID Distribution - Isabelle Dubar
Les Films du Losange - Régine Vial
Pan Européenne Distribution - Philippe Godeau
Pyramide - Fabienne Vonier
Rezo Films - Jean-Michel Rey
Pierre Grise Distribution - Maurice Tinchent

(Translated from French)