8 сентября 2023
The inaugural edition of the event is taking place in Almaty from 11-14 September, and is set to attract myriad professionals from the CIS countries and Europe
The Eurasian Film Market is all set to take place over four days in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 11-14 September. Almaty is poised to potentially become the primary hub for the film industry within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The market is organised by Eurasian Film Market LLP, and the central venue for the gathering will be the Arman cinema.
Hélène Haug, the director and co-founder of the Eurasian Film Market, explained: “The primary goal of the Eurasian Film Market is to establish a contemporary platform dedicated to promoting both domestic and international projects and enterprises to the nations within the CIS. Additionally, it aims to foster enhanced business opportunities between our countries and the global film industry. The participants in this film market include a diverse array of stakeholders, such as film content producers (producers, production outfits and film companies), film content procurers (distribution companies, sales agents, cinema chains, independent cinemas, streaming platforms and digital TV providers), foreign organisations championing domestic film content, representatives of foreign funds and individual programmes supporting film production and distribution, cinema-related service providers, film commissions, and curators of international film festivals.”
The hosting of the international film market in Almaty marks a significant shift in the centre of business relationships within the CIS film industry, with Kazakhstan emerging as the central point for bringing together key industry players. This event serves as a platform for raising awareness about the potential of Central Asian countries in the global and regional film markets, attracting foreign investments, and nurturing partnerships with both existing and new strategic allies. In its inaugural year, the Eurasian Film Market anticipates the participation of over 250 delegates, with a predominant representation from CIS nations. Notably, a substantial contingent from Russia, comprising independent distribution companies and other film-industry representatives, is confirmed to attend. It's worth noting that the region's geopolitical landscape has played a role in the relocation of several major Hollywood studios, including Disney, Sony, Universal and others, which have shifted their regional offices overseeing film releases in the CIS to Kazakhstan.
Ekaterina Bordacheva, one of the partners of the film market, stated: “The Eurasian Film Market serves as a unifying force, aligning the interests of numerous film professionals from a multitude of countries worldwide. This film market plays a pivotal role in accomplishing the primary objectives of industry stakeholders: showcasing film projects to both regional and international buyers, conducting comprehensive film searches and selections, expanding business networks, and enhancing brand recognition. For companies operating in the realm of cinema-related services, it facilitates market diversification and growth. We are in the process of building a robust network of communications and connections that will serve as a solid foundation for the development of sustainable and innovative business endeavours in the future.”
A primary goal of the Eurasian Film Market is to support the Central Asian film industry, and several initiatives have been implemented to achieve this. One such initiative is the “Poisk” programme, which will showcase feature-length fiction films and documentaries from Central Asian countries produced in 2022 and 2023. This programme is currently under development and will be introduced to a global audience of film content buyers, including distributors, sales agents, streaming platforms, cinemas and film festivals. “Poisk” is set to present over 100 films from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
The film market's business programme includes presentations from a diverse array of companies, including industry leaders such as Cinionic, a prominent global manufacturer and supplier of cinema equipment, and international distributor Kinologistika. Additionally, Asia Cinema contributes as a cinema equipment provider, while Asanafilm operates as a film distribution company within Kazakhstan and the CIS. Notable participants from Kazakhstan include the State Center for National Cinema Support, Tiger Films (the Republic of Kazakhstan's largest film company) and Sulpak Cinema (the largest distribution company in the Republic of Kazakhstan). Representing Yakutia is Sakha Film, and from Germany, German Films will be attending. Further strengthening the international presence are organisations dedicated to the promotion of French cinema: Unifrance and the CNC. Rounding off the line-up are RAY11, a film company and animation studio from Georgia; Digital District, a European leader specialising in post-production, special effects and colour grading; and Digital Solutions. The full programme of the market can be found here.
Finally, during the event, a French Film Festival is being organised, opening with the premiere of Bonnard, Pierre et Marthe [+] by Martin Provost. The screenings of French movies will be held every evening at the Arman cinema.
