Council of Europe film co-production fund holds fall meeting in Tallinn
The Eurimages Board of Management, which meets four times per year in different cities around Europe, is holding its 2016 fall meeting in Tallinn from Oct. 17-21, having brought with it over 50 top-level decision-makers to the Estonian capital.
"Having such an important group of people as the Eurimages Board of Management in Estonia is significant for our film industry," said Piret Tibbo-Hudgins, head of production at the Estonian Film Institute (EFI). "Last time we had such an opportunity was ten years ago, in 2005. This time, over 50 of the top-level decision makers are coming to Tallinn."
Eurimages was created in 1989 and has grown to 37 member states; Estonia joined Eurimages in 2004. The fund’s yearly budget is 25 million euros, of which the Estonian yearly commitment is 116,535 euros. Since its beginnings, the fund has supported 1,771 European co-production projects with almost 530 million euros.
The Eurimages Board of Management, composed of representatives from each of its member sattes, meets four times per year in different cities around Europe. Tibbo-Hudgins and EFI Managing Director Edith Sepp represent Estonia.
Eurimages has three support schemes, the most important of which is the financial support of feature films, animations and documentaries produced in Europe. In supporting these productions, it encourages cooperation between professionals established in different European countries. The fund also has support mechanisms for theatrical distribution and exhibition as well.
"Co-production and finding additional funding outside of Estonia is a reality of our film industry," Tibbo-Hudgins explained. "Year after year, we have expanded our list of co-production countries as well. Our latest additions, for example, have been Poland, Holland, Iceland and Spain."
Eurimages is also active on the topic of gender equality in the European film industry. The fund gathers statistics and analyzes stereotypes, clichés and other thematic aspects. For the first time this year, the Eurimages Gender Equality Working Group gave out the Audentia Award to the best female film director, which included a 30,000-euro cash prize. This high honor went to Romanian director Anca Damian for her film "The Magic Mountain." The Gender Equality Expanded Working Group meeting took place on Monday, Oct. 17 at Tallinn’s Kinomaja, where discussion revolved around the roles and opportunities for women filmmakers in the Estonian film industry.
Estonian co-productions that have received support from Eurimages in the last five years are "Tangerines" (Estonia-Georgia; 110,000 euros), "I Won't Come Back" (Russia-Belarus-Estonia-Finland; 210,000 euros), "The Fencer" (Finland-Estonia-Germany; 300,000 euros), "The Secret Society of Souptown" (Estonia-Finland; 220,000 euros), "Seneca's Day" (Lithuania-Estonia-Latvia; 220,000 euros), "Pretenders" (Estonia-Latvia-Lithuania, 120,000 euros) and "November" (Estonia-Poland-Netherlands; 210,000 euros).
Since 2015, Eurimages has also awarded a 20,000-euro development prize to the best co-production project at the Black Nights Film Festival co-production market Baltic Event.
The Eurimages Board of Management's 2016 fall meeting in Tallinn is scheduled to draw to a close on Friday.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: filmi.ee