News

Helping a selection of five European films to connect to Latin American distributors, Efp’s Film Sales Support (Fss) program has awarded grants to three sales agencies to step up their digital campaigns for this year’s hybrid Ventana Sur market.

Two companies from Germany have received support this year, as well as one from Spain. The unspecified amounts are to help the companies to “broaden their online presence and solidify business communications with buyers from Latin America attending Ventana Sur this year,” according to a press statement.

The new initiative underscores the fact that Ventana Sur has become an ever larger distribution springboard for European salles agents and their European films. “Ventana Sur is also a platform for European films, and this year sales are happening online. The onsite part is more focused on projects, pitching, and networking. Marketing is even more important to make films visible when going online,...

Berlin-based Picture Tree International has picked up global sales rights to two Scandinavian romantic comedies – the Finland’s “70 Is Just a Number,” about an aging female pop singer, and Sweden’s “Till Sun Rises,” about two lovers who escape their respective marriages to come together at night with the help of an ancient and magic book.

Pti will launch sales on the films at AFM, prior to their local releases via Nordisk Film: Dec. 29 and Dec. 25, respectively.

“70 Is Just a Number” is directed by Finnish comedy queen Johanna Vuoksenmaa, who directed “21 Ways to Ruin Your Marriage” – the top grossing Finnish film in 2013 with more than 400,000 admissions, still the biggest box office hit ever written, directed and produced by a woman in Finland. Produced by Nina Laurio and Riina Hyytiä with their Finnish company Dionysos Films, the film was supported by Finnish Film Foundation, and Tampere City/Film Tampere. The local broadcaster is Yleisradio.

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