Angela Bosch
General Director
Catalan Films & TV
Spain |
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Eastern European countries are standing up thanks to the quality of their studios, landscapes, very qualified talent and stories.
What is the aim of the Sitges Sales Office?
CF & TV created the Sitges Sales Office in 2004: a place to identify the industry and promote the sale of productions, as well as co-productions. One year later, we specialized in Asia. The office consisted of 96 observers, 57 buyers and 176 sellers. The trend was, an increase of 29% of observers that pointed out how interesting it was to have a parallel market to the Festival de Cinema de Catalunya, Sitges 2005, and they considered it very necessary. The level of buyers reached 51%, and found that it was an amazing chance to meet with people from the industry before MIPCOM, and make good contacts and close deals.
Do you organize other activities related to the SSO?
For SSO 2005, as a side project that offered something extra to the SSO, we celebrated the "Asia meets Europe ", that had as a highlight, a roundtable
organized by CF&TV, with the motto "Exporting and co-producing with Asia ". Supported by VARIETY and moderated by its journalist for Spain and Portugal, Mr. J. Hopewell. We had the presence of sellers and well-known distributors, and we presented a very interesting study on how the relations between Spain and Asia have been up until now.
And for the next edition, is the SSO focusing on Eastern Europe ?
Of course, countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Russia, the Balkans and Germany, have historically as well as today, very interesting cinematography, and they have begun to stand out among the Western European countries, thanks to the quality of their studios and landscapes, very qualified talent & stories, and their own vision that is highly appreciated by Catalans and the rest of the world.
Does the Catalan audiovisual industry currently relate to Eastern European countries?
Entering into the EU's media program has focused the attention onto the emerging models they are suggesting. They are active buyers (although the prices are not very high), as well as international co-producers & distributors. Catalonia and Spain have a special interest in them because of the similarity structures, and the access to the North and South American Market.
What is the goal for SSO in 2006?
In this third edition of the Sitges Sales Office, we have one main goal: increase the number of observers, buyers and sellers, in the national and international field, so we can consolidate the SSO as a commercial and talent attraction for the industry. For this issue, the guests this year will be Germany and Eastern European countries. |
