24 European Film & TV Markets Launch F.A.M.E. Alliance

A group of 24 European film and TV markets are uniting under the banner of the FAME (Film and Audiovisual Markets of Europe) alliance to promote and enhance the role they play in the audiovisual sector in Europe.

The alliance was born out of a series of three think tank meetings in 2023 on the future of European film markets.

Members of the new group include Agora TiFF and Agora TidF (Thessaloniki), CineLink Industry Days (Sarajevo), CPH:DOX Docs, Göteborg Film Festival Industry, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), Les Arcs Industry Village, and Locarno Pro, MIFA (Annecy ) and the Zurich Film Festival.

The alliance is being launched in a rapidly changing landscape of physical film and television markets after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the uptake of virtual meeting technology, while current challenges include concerns about the environmental impact of global travel and rising costs.

The group highlighted the role its members play in supporting the development and financing of film and television projects, and described the establishment of the alliance as a “pivotal moment.”

“Markets are unique industry hubs that support the entire lifecycle of audiovisual businesses from their initial development and financial research through to their future trading,” she said in a statement.

“They are essential platforms for meetings, exchanges and business transactions between professionals from all over the world. They evaluate, host, train and showcase at least 3,000 audiovisual projects and works every year.

“This vibrant network of formal and informal connections fuels the transformation of promising projects into fascinating films, documentaries, series, software, games or virtual worlds. In festivals, theatres, TVs and streaming platforms, these projects will find their way to audiences. But most of them will have passed , months ago, through one or more markets.

The coalition said its members also created networking opportunities. Promote exchange through committees, roundtables and conferences; They provided training and served as laboratories for the emergence of new narratives, new media, and new technologies.

He stressed the continued importance of physical markets as well as the fact that the diversity of the sector is its strength.

“The sector needs small, medium and large markets spread temporally and geographically across the continent. These markets, regardless of their size or orientation, are essential for a diversified audio-visual industry, creating jobs and wealth.

“Without this diversity, the entire production chain, of which these markets constitute the first link, will be disrupted. Prioritizing regional needs is the only way to respond to the unique demands and cultural expressions of the European mosaic.

It is also important that its members continue to support a diverse range of genres, formats and technologies that will in turn build and sustain a thriving and inclusive industry, the alliance said.

Other objectives include creating a platform that collects data and updates about its members to create a strategic tool that gives a common perspective on the future as well as providing a comprehensive view of the production and distribution sectors for the benefit of the entire European industry.

The coalition said it will act as a lobby group for its members, liaise with national and European funding agencies, and advocate for the benefits of a diverse market ecosystem.

Full list of founding members: