Tuesday, 20 July 2007

For the third year running the European Producers Club held a Cooperation Forum in China in June. This year's four-day event was held in conjunction with the Shanghai International Film Festival from 17^th - 19^th June 2007 at the Crown Plaza Hotel.

Accompanying the EPC team of Jean Cazès, Alexandra Lebret and Eglantine Pottiez de Césari was a delegation of ten of Europe's finest independent film producers from seven countries.

Catherine Dussard / CDP (France)

Diana Elbaum / Entre Chien et Loup (Belgium)

Hans De Weers / Eyeworks Egmond (Netherlands)

Christoph Menardi / Hofmann & Voges Entertainment GMBH (Germany)

Jean Cazès / Initial Productions (France)

Cristiano Bortone / Orisa Produzioni Srl (Italy)

Bob Portal / Phantom Pictures Ltd (UK)

Sébatien Chesneau / Rézo Films (France)

Sergio Pelone / The Bottom Line Srl (Italy)

Antonio Saura / Zebra Producciones (Spain)

The already successful formula of presentations by industry insiders, round-table discussions and one-to-one meetings with key people in the Chinese film industry now has an extra dimension:

The 2007 edition of the Cooperation Forum added screenings of new, independent European films looking for distribution in China. Chinese sales agent s and distributors saw eight films. The EPC policy of constant improvement bore fruit this year. Two films have found a distribution deal in China: Zebra Producciones' William and Miguel and Rezo Film's Princess of the Sun.

Six European producers brought projects with them, hoping to set up a co-production partnership with a local producer. This year almost half the delegation came home with a deal in the works!

Catherine Dussart / CDP / "Sea Wall"

Hans de Weers / Eyeworks Egmond / "The Lacquer Quenn"

Chrisoph Menardi / Hofman & Voges Entertainment GMBH / "John Rabe"

Cristiano Bortone / Orisa Produzioni / "Terror in Naples"

Bob Portal / Phantom Pictures / "Stranger"

Sergio Pelone / The Bottom Line / "Made in China"

The Cooperation Forums were developed by the EPC to introduce independent European film producers to the Chinese market: to their counterparts in China, to the government officials whose influence on the industry is so enormous and to those who hold key positions within Chinese sales and distribution companies. The Forums are designed a crash course in Chinese cinema and film making.

The EPC is organising events in more events throughout 2007, in nine different countries across two continents.

The EPC booth at the Film Market was besieged by Chinese film-makers eager to understand the intricacies of the industry in Europe and to meet European producers.

For more information, please contact Alexandra Lebret: