Europe Major Market European Film Market (EFM) 2026 - The Essential Guide for Producers & Buyers

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EUROPEAN FILM MARKET (EFM) 2026 – BERLIN

Location
Berlin, Germany

Event Dates
February 13–19, 2026

Event Type
Film Market / Industry Event

Focus / Categories
Film sales and acquisitions, international distribution, co-production, financing, packaging, industry networking.

Who It’s For
Sales agents, distributors, producers, financiers, commissioning editors, buyers, and international film industry professionals.


Event Description
The European Film Market (EFM) is one of the most important global film markets, held annually alongside the Berlinale. It serves as a central business hub for the international film industry, bringing together decision-makers involved in sales, acquisitions, co-productions, and financing.

EFM provides a structured marketplace for independent and international films, offering screenings, meetings, and networking opportunities that connect projects with global partners.

Submission / Participation Info
Participation requires official EFM registration and market accreditation. Access options include market badges, screenings, and industry events

Fees / Accreditation
Fees vary depending on participation type and access level.

Official Website

European Film Market

The European Film Market is one of the top three meeting places of the international film and media industries. Its close links with the Berlinale as a public film festival, and its position at the heart of Berlin’s vivid creative economy, are defining characteristics of the Berlinale’s film market.

www.efm-berlinale.de

Associated Festival: 2026 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
https://filmplatforms.com/threads/berlinale-berlin-international-film-festival-2026.58/

 

[MICA]

Hi everyone!

Berlinale is always a highlight for us. As a distributor, I already have a few exciting titles in my pocket for this year, but I’m definitely looking for more gems to pick up. My schedule is filling up with meetings, but I’d love to connect with fellow pros or producers here. What about you? Are you heading to Berlin to sell, buy, or just for the inspiration? See you there!
Anyone already booking meetings through Cinando or EFM’s matchmaking this year?

 

[Samantha]

Hi MICA! It’s great to see a distributor already active here. I’m heading to Berlin as well, representing a small production house.

We are currently finalizing our 2026 film slate, and while our main focus is on EFM co-production meetings, we are definitely looking to chat with international sales agents and distributors about a genre-bending feature we have in late post-production.
Regarding Cinando and the EFM Industry Sessions yes, it’s already getting crowded! I’ve found that the official EFM matchmaking system is a bit more targeted this year for finding the right business partners, though it requires a lot of pre-screening.
Are you looking for any specific genres or territories for your current portfolio? Specifically for the European or North American markets?

Would love to catch up for a quick espresso near the Martin-Gropius-Bau if your schedule allows it. Safe travels to Berlin!

 

[Michael]

Absolutely agree, at EFM, it’s often the half-sentences and coffee chats that end up mattering most.

From personal experience, some of the most valuable connections I’ve made in Berlin were not scheduled in advance. One project literally started with a casual “what are you working on?” in the Marriott lobby and eventually turned into an international sales collaboration. Even the shuttle rides become moving networking spaces if you’re open to conversation, it’s hard to stay invisible.
The area around Gropius Bau is definitely a hotspot. I’ve found the atmosphere there much more relaxed compared to formal hotel suite meetings, which often leads to more honest, productive conversations with producers and sales agents.
Cinando and the EFM matchmaking tools are useful, but I see them more as supporting tools rather than the core strategy. The pre-screening can be time-consuming, but it does result in more targeted meetings. My best approach so far has been locking in the “must-have” meetings early, while keeping some open slots for spontaneous encounters.
And yes business cards still matter a lot in Berlin. Despite everything being digital, a quick handshake and card exchange tends to leave a stronger impression than a LinkedIn request sent the next day.
Overall, EFM always reminds me that it’s not just a market for films, but a market built on people and trust. Many of the strongest projects don’t start with a pitch deck, but with a genuine conversation.

Curious to hear from others as well which spots have brought you the most unexpected but valuable connections over the years?

 

[John]

What I find interesting about EFM conversations like this is how clearly they expose the difference between formal networking and situational trust-building.

Markets like European Film Market are designed around meetings, schedules, platforms, and matchmaking tools, yet some of the most meaningful professional outcomes still emerge outside those systems. Lounges, hotel lobbies, shuttle rides, even the short walk between venues often create lower-pressure environments where people speak more honestly about where a project really stands.
Those moments matter because they filter out noise. When there’s no pitch deck open and no calendar slot ticking down, conversations tend to move quickly to the essentials. What stage the film is actually in, what kind of partner is realistically needed, and whether there’s mutual alignment beyond polite interest.
From a professional standpoint, this is also where credibility quietly forms. Not through titles or badges, but through how clearly someone can articulate their role, their constraints, and their intent. Tools like Cinando or EFM matchmaking are valuable for structuring access, but trust is usually built in parallel spaces where expectations are implicit rather than formalized.
Berlin consistently proves that while films are the reason people attend, relationships are the real currency of the market. Projects often don’t start with a deal memo, but with a conversation that continues long after the espresso is finished.

Curious as well which informal spaces others have found most effective over the years, especially as the market keeps evolving.