"In 2026, EFM and Frontières set to introduce a fresh musical genre focus"
The European Film Market (EFM) and Frontières, a genre film specialisation initiative organised by Canada's Fantasia Film Festival, have joined forces to create a fascinating new showcase called EFM Frontières Focus. This collaboration aims to enhance the visibility and commercial prospects of genre films by leveraging Frontières' established industry connections and EFM's global platform at the Berlinale.
Scheduled for the 2026 EFM during the Berlinale in February, EFM Frontières Focus will serve as a platform for genre works-in-progress. Five standout genre projects in advanced stages such as financing, production, or early post-production will be presented for industry matchmaking and pitching. Filmmakers can seek sales agents, distributors, festival exposure, or completion funding through this unique opportunity.
The showcase strengthens ties between Berlin’s EFM and Fantasia International Film Festival’s Montreal-based Frontières Market, which has a successful track record with the Cannes Frontières Platform and the Frontières Co-Production Market. Clips from the films will be screened during the showcase, and exclusive networking events tailored to the genre community will complement the program.
Directors or producers of the selected titles will pitch their work directly to an industry audience, with the aim of connecting standout genre works with sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers. Titles presented will be in works in progress or in production, ranging from psychological thrillers to horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and hybrid forms.
The growth of genre in the film industry is being recognised globally, including at Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival, where emerging directors are exploring social issues through fantasy or dystopian contexts. Tricia Tuttle, Berlin Festival Director, discussed the challenge of the disconnect between the commercial and festival sides of the industry at a high-powered keynote panel at Aug. 7's StepIn.
Frontières is excited to bring its genre-driven perspective to the EFM, as the collaboration between EFM and Frontières is aimed at opening up new opportunities for creators, producers, and industry professionals. This initiative is one move to close the growing chasm between the commercial and festival sides of the industry, and it seeks to challenge outdated notions of the genre and spotlight the creative force behind it.
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