New initiatives and events at the “Forum Film & TV” of the Frankfurt Book Fair (Oct. 19-23, 2005) are to strengthen the dialogue between the publishing and film industries / October 19th is Berlinale Day

The fruitful cooperation between Berlin and Frankfurt was launched last February at the Berlin International Film Festival and the initiative is being expanded with joint industry events at the Book Fair in October. The Book Fair and the Berlinale have a common aim: to help successful books enjoy a second life on the silver screen or TV.

“The goal is to initiate new projects through exchange between literature and film. The positive response to our previous joint activities in Berlin confirm that we should continue, and indeed, expand this cooperation,” comments Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick. “We would like to establish both events as marketplaces for film material.”

As part of the Book Fair’s first day for trade visitors on October 19, the Berlinale will be a guest at the “Forum Film & TV” and will be presenting four screen adaptations of literature from the 2005 Berlinale programme in the Book Fair’s cinema theatre:

• Populärmusik fran Vittutla, Sweden/Finland;Director: Reza Bagher, based on the novel by Mikael Niemi)
• The Last Mitterand (Le promeneur du champs de mars, France; Director: Robert Guédiguian, based on the novel by Georges-Marc Benamou)
• Thumbsucker (USA; Director: Mike Mills, based on the novel by Walter Kirn)
• Asylum (USA/Ireland; Director: David MacKenzie, based on the novel by Patrick McGrath)

In addition, representatives of the film and publishing industries will be invited to take part in a Workshop moderated by Peter Cowie, renowned international film journalist and author of numerous books on cinema. The event will explore the possibilities for cooperation between the two industries – film production and book publishing (to register e-mail palm@berlinale.de, space is limited).

Peter Cowie will also lead the Filmtalk, where he will speak with a director about the specific challenges of literature adaptations. The Filmtalk will give a perspective on how a director deals with literary material and the translation of language into image.

In 2005, the Frankfurt Book Fair will be offering an additional service for adaptations and scripts in the International Agents Centre. In Speed Dating Sessions from October 19 to 21, film producers will be able to meet one-on-one with international publishers and agents. Participants will receive a catalogue listing book rights available for film development. Also included is a list of the publishers and producers taking part in the Speed Dating sessions. Former participants of the Berlinale Co-Production Market have also been invited to take part in the Speed Dating sessions.

“With the launch of Forum Film & TV two years ago, the Frankfurt Book Fair developed a new marketplace for trading film rights, which had been lacking for both the film and book industries – internationally, as well” says Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurt Book Fair. “With organised Speed Dating between the publishing and film industries, this year the Book Fair and Berlinale are taking another step towards the intensification and professionalisation of contacts between the two industries.”

The cooperation between the Book Fair and the Berlinale will continue at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival (February 9-19, 2006). To complement the representation of the Book Fair at the Berlinale’s new European Film Market (EFM) in the Martin-Gropius-Bau, additional industry events will be held in the Berlinale Co-Production Market.