Production talent, known and unknown, have spent this week showcasing their new projects to industry professionals at the Les Arcs Film Festival, with the hope of securing funding, and new partnerships.
ADVERTISEMENTProduction talent, known and unknown, have spent this week showcasing their new projects to industry professionals at the Les Arcs Film Festival, with the hope of securing funding, and new partnerships.
For those with ideas, the Industry Village part of the event, gives them a platform where they can screen and discuss them.
The event has attracted more than 500 professionals this year - and organisers say it is going from strength to strength.
The Talent gatherings are taking place across several locations in the resort - and although funding prize money is up for grabs, for many producers it’s more about finding people to work with.
British film producer, Sabina Smitham, and Russian director, Alex Brodski, had their film shortlisted, and presented it at the festival - they are looking for European producers to work with so they can pool together resources available from different countries, but they told Euronews that Brexit is making it difficult.
“Everybody is quite uncertain about how things are going to work...so even though this is a gorgeous festival and everyone is very positive, there is a little bit of nervousness about committing to a UK co-production without knowing what the industry is going to look like after Brexit because it could mean UK productions have less access to European funds which is obviously really worrying for us as independent filmmakers,” she said.
Producers have access to public money in the country they are from, but working with co-producers from other countries means more access to their public money - and there are tax incentives in different countries too.
“And if you can pool together those resources, you can have a bigger budget for your independent film and have something more exciting and wonderful which is obviously what we would love to do,” Sabina added.
Concerns over Brexit have been addressed at many of the presentations. However, there is also hope a solution can be found.
“I think financing is important but what is more important for me is that we will be losing a part of the community that I don’t like. The Brits need us, I am talking about film and filmmakers, and we need the Brits…so I hope we will find a way so we can still be connected,” Ewa Puszczynska, producer of Cold War, told Euronews.
Despite the challenges ahead, It’s hoped the festival will continue to surface new talent - and that more co-productions will keep European Cinema on the ascent. European Filmmakers Fear Brexit Is Holding Them Back