Friday, 6 February---- The European Film Market, the professional component of the Berlinale, opened yesterday at the historic Martin Gropius Bau with more of a whimper than a bang. Attendance on the opening day and for today's first official day of market screenings was definitely sparse compared to years past, with hallways amazingly empty and ample empty seats available in the cafe and meeting points. "This is the slowest Berlin I've ever experienced", one veteran sales agent...

The European Film Market (EFM) can report upbeat results at the conclusion of the first major business event of the year. In 2008, the EFM hosted a  record number of exhibitors, sales agents and industry professionals at two venues, the Martin Gropius Bau and the EFM Exhibitor Offices, as well as presented close to 1,100 screenings in cinemas around Potsdamer Platz.From the business side, this year’s Market can also report a positive balance. Many companies – including such market stalwarts...

The European Film Market (EFM) can report upbeat results at the conclusion of the first major business event of the year. In 2008, the EFM hosted a record number of exhibitors, sales agents and industry professionals at two venues, the Martin Gropius Bau and the EFM Exhibitor Offices, as well as presented close to 1,100 screenings in cinemas around Potsdamer Platz.From the business side, this year’s Market can also report a positive balance. Many companies – including such market stalwarts ...