The Short Film Market 2013

The most important Short Film Market in the World

In Europe

Let’s start with some good news: our British friends are back at the Short Film Market after two years of absence!

While these last years have been a golden period for UK short film (in terms of awards and audience appreciation) it has simultaneously been a worrying time for the UK industry. The abolition of the UK Film Council and the other important changes that took place have meant a long pause in various short film production and support schemes.

Time for a re-organization was needed. Briony Hanson, Director of Film at British Council said: ‘Clermont-Ferrand has always been recognised by the UK as a key event on the festival calendar, and an invaluable opportunity to promote the best and brightest of our new filmmaking talent. I am absolutely thrilled that we are able to commit to the Short Film Market again after the relative uncertainty across the industry in the last few years. We’ve rallied the major players in UK shorts and can’t wait to get back out to Clermont-Ferrand in February to present a unified and exciting short film offer’.

Welcome back then to British Council Film, the British Film Institute, and all the major players in UK shorts, including Creative England, the new national agency that offers bespoke talent development opportunities for prize-winning short filmmakers.

We all know that European countries have been suffering from the damage caused by the financial crisis and working with tight budget… Still, Spain will be represented, without Catalonia this year.  Portugal will also be attending, with its Short Film Agency, the Curtas Vila do Conde Festival, and the city of Guimarães, European Capital of Culture 2012. Greece will also be with us, holding firm… On the French side, Unifrance Films comes with an extended umbrella stand to accommodate two additional short film distributors. Origine Films and Autour de Minuit will thus join the French Short Film Agency World Sales, La Luna Distribution and Premium Films.

Lithuania will be present for the first time with a double stand at the Short Film Market to ensure maximum visibility to its brand new Short Film Agency. A Market screening will showcase the best of this country’s national production.

Flanders Image’s small team have also managed to pull up a stand and will be in Clermont-Ferrand to actively promote Flemish talent and short films.

Rest of the world

Canada was somehow in a similar position to the UK after the SODEC’s withdrawal in 2012. Everyone will be pleased to hear that this situation was not made to last. This re-evaluation actually resulted in the SODECreturning stronger. Coupled with Telefilm Canada’s investment and Danny Lennon’s restless energy, this means that Canada will be back on a stand (traditionally shared with Wallonie Bruxelles Images) at the Short Film Market 2013. Two Market screenings will also highlight Canadian short films.

The Latin American presence will get even stronger with Argentina’s INCAA (Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales) joining Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Chile, already present.

China will also be represented with two organizations coming to present their interest and investment in short film to our curious international delegates and visitors.

The Gulf will also have representatives at the Short Film Market with Qatar presenting 2 “Made in Qatar” Market screenings, and Kuwait introducing a shorts Market screening. On the Iranian side, let us salute the presence of Dreamlab, who distribute features films (A Separation, About Elly, etc.) and who also come to Clermont-Ferrand with a catalogue of Iranian short films to give them visibility on the international scene.

For the first time also in 2013, Unijapan, the national organization for the promotion of Japanese cinema, will be at the Short Film Market with a stand, thus reinforcing an already active Japanese participation.

To conclude, despite the instability induced by the current crisis, the Short Film Market 2013 is packed – and late requests even had to be turned down. With regular exhibitors, returning countries, and newcomers – all leading national and international industry players – the Short Film Market 2013 reaffirms its position as the number one marketplace for short films at the international level.