Jan 28, 2026
EFM Industry Programme 2026: Driving Growth Through Innovation and Connections

The European Film Market (EFM), the industry platform of the Berlinale, marks the start of the film business year by highlighting key trends, new business opportunities and strategies for the global film and TV production sector. In 2026, the second-largest global audiovisual B2B event presents an expanded Industry Programme featuring new initiatives, awards and formats, with a focus on innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

EFM Conference Programme 2026

The EFM Conference brings together around 100 international industry figures, visionaries and decision-makers to address current challenges and developments in the global audiovisual sector. The programme offers actionable insights, concrete perspectives and professional exchange across the audiovisual value chain, with a strong focus on professional growth.

Through masterclasses, keynotes, presentations and case studies, the EFM Conference reflects the key questions currently shaping the film and media business.

Film financing strategies take centre stage in two masterclasses with Alex Walton, Co-Head of WME Independent, and Timo Argillander, Founder and Executive Chairman of IPR.VC, an investment fund specialising in linking institutional capital with creative producers and content rights. The Entertainment Finance Forum provides an outlook on 2026 in a panel organised by Winston Baker, examining private equity strategies and international capital flows.

The Conference further examines macro trends and industry shifts, focusing on how producers can translate these developments into strategic advantages. Topics include direct monetisation, data-driven audience development, creative marketing, as well as vertical and liquid content.

Additional workshops include ACE Producers’ “Rethinking Producing Through Collective Power to Sharper decision-making in the AI era” as well as EAVE’s “Does AI Need You More Than You Need It?” and “Regulatory Realities Shaping Independence and Financing”, presented in collaboration with the European Producers Club.

Dr. Marina Kosten (USC Annenberg) presents an in-depth analysis of global film marketing, focusing on data-driven strategies and best practices for improving content positioning and audience engagement worldwide.

“Bridging Visions” explores how vertical micro-dramas, AI and branded content are reshaping creation and circulation across Asian markets. The interactive workshop examines new revenue opportunities beyond traditional release models in response to evolving audience viewing habits.

TikTok’s case study “From Fandom to Box Office: How Fandom on TikTok Drives Impact” examines fandom, book-to-screen IP, short-form toolkits and the evolving role of creators within the industry, illustrated through the success of Amazon’s Maxton Hall. Content creators and influencers take part in the on-stage discussion.

In the daily meeting series “Consult the Experts and Meet the Festivals”, market participants can book one-to-one sessions with international industry professionals to receive tailored advice on their projects.

Among the nearly 100 international guest speakers are Ron Dyens (Sacrebleu Productions), Marina Kosten (USC Annenberg), Sean Clarke (Aardman), Mark Cousins, Vivian Anan-Wang (Crisp Momentum), Melo Nsuka (@melosempaii), Elisabeth D’Arvieu (Mediawan Pictures), Ada Solomon (microFILM), Timo Argillander (IPR.VC), Katharina Gellein Viken (Metrotone), Alex Walton (WME) and many others.

The EFM Conference Programme will once again take place at the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation.

EFM Animation Days (New in 2026)

28 early-stage animation projects, spanning family entertainment and arthouse animation and seeking co-production partners and sales agents, will be presented across five pitching sessions on Thursday and Friday. A curated international pitching session is complemented by country-focused sessions from Germany, the UK, Central and Eastern Europe and Canada. Another key feature is the Annecy Animation Showcase, curated by the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (Mifa), offering an exclusive preview of five animated works in progress to facilitate early market exposure and festival positioning on Friday, February 13.

Four in-depth workshops take place on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14. Case studies of The Last Whale Singer and The Amazing Maurice 2, a German–UK co-production, focus on game engines, virtual production tools, creative collaboration, financing structures, cross-border workflows and market positioning for animated features.

Workshops on producing animated documentaries offer documentary producers insights into creative processes and the specific language of hybrid projects. Drawing on the Emmy-winning animated documentary series Fritzi’s Journey and the expertise of animated documentary specialists, participants gain a deeper understanding of this market segment and its development constraints.

A selection of Programme Highlights:

• Riding the Waves of Real-Time Animation Production – A Case Study of The Last Whale Singer (German–Canadian–Hungarian co-production), Saturday, February 14, Producers Hub
• The Amazing Maurice 2 – A German–UK Co-Production Case Study, Saturday, February 14, Producers Hub
• Producing Animated Documentaries, hosted by CEE Animation, Friday, February 13, from 3.00 pm, Documentation Centre
• Fritzi’s Journey: From Feature Animation to Emmy-Winning Animated Documentary Series, hosted by DOK Leipzig, Saturday, February 14, 4.00 to 5.00 pm, Documentation Centre

Speed-dating sessions, as well as daily free-to-attend Breakfast Clubs and Happy Hours, connect game developers, film and documentary producers with experienced animation studios. The EFM Animation Days are supported by MDM – Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung.

More Information about the Animation Days 2026 and the full programme here.

EFM Beyond at the EFM Producers & Innovation Hub, Gropius Bau

With the new initiative EFM Beyond, the EFM programme expands its focus on cross-media storytelling for independent IP. Responding to an increasingly fragmented market, the initiative supports a shift towards portfolio-driven, IP-first development across multiple formats, including film, series, games, animation, XR and scripted branding.

Through a series of producer workshops, participants explore worldbuilding and the gaming ecosystem, reframing the producer’s role as an IP architect developing scalable narrative worlds.

A curated exhibitor area and a new Film-to-Game Accelerator provide producers with practical insights into transmedia storytelling and hybrid financing models, while facilitating connections beyond the traditional film ecosystem.

Also debuting at EFM 2026 is the Cross-IP Accelerator Programme, developed in collaboration with the MIFA market of the Annecy International Film Festival and the expert lab Spielfabrique. The programme enables selected participants to co-develop new cross-media IP, gain access to international industry networks, and benefit from targeted mentorship and pitching opportunities. It continues throughout the year with webinars, and the participating cohort also attends MIFA and Gamescom for further training and networking opportunities.

“Games to Screen: Showcase of French Game IPs” presents French game IPs completing a new cross-media initiative by the Institut français Germany and the CNC. The event presents innovative French video game IPs ready for adaptation into film and series, followed by dedicated matchmaking with creators and publishers.

The EFM Producers Hub brings together producers, financiers and industry leaders and is accessible exclusively to Market Badge holders.

This multitude of interactive sessions and workshops for independent producers is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and organised in collaboration with leading training labs and international experts, including ACE Producers, EAVE, the European Producers Club, Spielfabrique, Medianet, Helsinki Film Lab, PixVerse, Eventive, CapCut, Bridging Visions, Vievo, Moltencloud, Vimeo, Animation UK, MOIN, CNC, Institut français Germany, the International Screen Institute and others.

EFM Innovation Hub

Located on the second floor of the Gropius Bau, the EFM Innovation Hub serves as a focal point for exploring virtual production tools, game engines and real-time pipelines. New in 2026 is the Immersive Zone, supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg – a curated open XR and VR showroom featuring multiple VR stations, complemented by workhops on expanding film IP into immersive formats.

Returning for its 12th edition after a record number of submissions are the 12 selected EFM Startups 2026, showcasing emerging tech ventures with strong European representation, a notable presence of female founders and a standout company from Korea. For the first time, EFM will award one exceptional startup in collaboration with media partner Screen International.

EFM Startups alumni include Letterboxd, FilmChain, Respeecher, Publikum, Largo.ai and Phont.

More Information about the Producers & Innovation Hub 2026
More Information about the EFM Startups

Funding & Programme Support

The EFM 2026 is supported by a range of national and international partners.

EFM Beyond, the EFM Startups programme and the Producers Hub are co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA. The EFM Animation Days are supported by MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung and the BFI’s National Lottery UK Focus Fund, while the DocSalon is supported by FFF Bayern.

The EFM Industry Programme 2026 will once again take place at the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation, located near the Gropius Bau and providing a dedicated setting for industry exchange.

The European Film Market is part of Berlinale Pro, which brings together the European Film Market, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund. Berlinale Pro serves the global film industry as a full-circle infrastructure supporting all stages of film development, production, sales and distribution.

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Press Office
January 28, 2026