In its eighth year, the event has built a solid reputation as the only one of its kind in Northern Europe offering networking and co-financing opportunities for producers and creators of children’s media content for multiple platforms, and a larger number and variety of buyers and co-financiers are expected this year (50 vs 45 in 2013), from public organisations, broadcasters, VOD distributors, to publishers, gaming and toy companies such as the Lego Group.
Twenty two international projects from ten different countries will be pitched to the 200 participants, including 15 from Scandinavia. “Last year we had an extra seven projects backed by Nordisk Film & TV Fond’s ‘High Five Cross Media Content for Kids’ stressed Annette Brejner (pictured) who heads the event. “I think the initiative was instrumental in helping Scandinavian professionals think transmedia and cross-media”. The first pitching sessions on Wednesday 12 will focus on live action feature films and the second session on Thursday 13 on Transmedia projects. Scandinavian co-productions to be pitched include the feature animation Get Santa (DK/SE) produced by Copenhagen Bombay and targeting 7-11 years-old and the multi- platform animation project Little Wild Worlds (FI/NO) produced by Studio Outo and targeting the 2-6 years old.
Other highlights include a presentation of the report ‘Audience in Mind’ written by Michael Gubbins (SampoMedia) for CineRegio, a case study of the German live action film Sputnik that was pitched at The Financing Forum 2010 and was voted Best Children’s Film 2014 by German film critics, a workshop on ‘Marketing and engagement for children’s live action features’ and a MEET-UP session with experts for participants with digital projects.
For further details, check: www.thefinancingforum.com