Tanja Meissner, Interview with the Director of Berlinale Pro*

As the first major film market of the year, the EFM is the market that kicks off the audio-visual business year.  Starting this year 2025, the EFM is part of Berlinale Pro* and serves as a compass, barometer and pacesetter for the new film year: new productions and developments, future-proof business models, contacts and contracts.  Berlinale Pro* integrates the European Film Market (EFM), the Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents, and the World Cinema Fund, creating a comprehensive merge where industry professionals can collaborate, develop, and explore new opportunities. With Tanja Meissner as its new director, Berlinale Pro* aims to strengthen connections between these initiatives, promoting creativity, sustainability, and innovation within the film industry. This integration ensures that the EFM and its associated programmes continue to be a driving force in the global entertainment landscape.  Among the initiatives Tanja Meissner’s team bring to the EFM 2025 there are the EFM - Innovation Hub, with its focus on cutting-edge technologies and AI-based solutions from screenwriting to distribution and the EFM – Distributor Award aiming to recognize the significance of European Arthouse distribution and its central contribution to cultural diversity.