Europa International, the new representative association for European International Distributors, has been launched on May 17 during the Cannes Festival.
Right know Europa International counts 24 members from 8 European countries: Autlook and EastWest from Austria, TrustNordisk from Denmark, Bac Films, Celluloid Dreams, Coproduction Office, Doc & Film Intl, Films Distribution, Le Pacte, Les Films du Losange, Memento Films Intl, MK 2, Pyramides Intl, SND M6, Urban Films Distribution and Wild Bunch from France, Films Boutique and The Match Factory from Germany, Soul Food from Serbia, LevelK from Sweden, Fortissimo and Just Bridge from Netherlands, Fandango Portobello and Hanway from United Kingdom.
Based in Brussels, the association is represented by its president Michael Weber (The Match Factory) and vice-presidents, Frederick Stege (TrustNordisk), Thorsten Schumacher (Hanway), Daniela Elstner (Doc & Film International), and its deputies, Nelleke Driessen (Fortissimo), François Yon (Films Distribution), Sasha Wieser (EastWest). Jean-Paul Commin is appointed as treasurer and Daphné Kapfer is in charge of managing the organization.
The main objective of the association is to represent and defend the interests of the exporters, through the creation of a network and a collaboration with the others organizations such as distributors and exhibitors.
European international distributors – essential players regarding the financing and distribution of European cinema – have decided to join forces to face the important challenges of the actual markets, in particular the transition to the digital world and the emergence of new media and business models.