European Work in Progress Cologne 2020 begins

Petra Müller, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, opens the industry event

On-site and online – International participants from 34 production countries meet at the EWIP 2020, which takes place from 5 – 7 October during the 30th Film Festival Cologne. After creative discussions and intensive preparations, the gap financing market, which is mainly supported by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, can now take place under strict hygiene and distance rules. The new venue is the Cinenova cinema as it offers enough space for pitches, meetings, and panel discussions.

Petra Müller, Managing Director of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, welcomed the participants to the opening: 

“The year 2020 presents the film industry with enormous challenges. I am even more pleased that we can meet here today – personally and online – in order to get to know 28 exciting international film projects and their teams over the next two days. I wish all teams and participants that they can find their “partner for the project” here in Cologne and work together with them on production and marketing. In the past two years, numerous outstanding films have made their way from here to international festivals and cinema audiences. With EWIP, a market platform has emerged here in Cologne, and its success proves how much it is needed!”

EWIP is organised in cooperation with AG Verleih, the association of German independent film distributors. Torsten Frehse, board member: 

“The industry’s hunger for physical encounters has been reflected in the high number of participants. We were overwhelmed and therefore, created online access for all those who cannot be in Cologne. We want to respond to the great interest and to support the international exchange in the film industry, which has suffered greatly from the pandemic, with the means at our disposal. We now have three busy days ahead and I am very excited to see which outstanding projects will be presented at the festivals and cinemas around the world in 2021.”

From 5 – 7 October 2020, international participants will present 28 film projects from 34 countries to complete the financing and find distribution partners as well as interested festivals in their final phase of production. 

All participating projects can receive prizes with a total value of 37,500 euros. This year’s award sponsors are K13 Studios, LAVAlabs Moving Images, ARRI Media and ZOOM Medienfabrik. An independent jury of renowned industry representatives will decide on the award winners: Triin Tramberg, programme coordinator at the Talinn Black Nights Festival, Leslie Chen, Senior Advisor of Blossoms Entertainment, Melanie Andernach, CEO and co-founder of MADE IN GERMANY Filmproduktion, as well as Sebastian Lückel, head of acquisitions, co-productions and programming at ARD Degeto.

For all your enquiries please do not hesitate and contact the team or the press agency.