High marks for frosh Karlovy Vary market
Strbova's creative arrangements ease pace
In place of traditional stands, market director Denisa Strbova has provided a central library of video cassettes, viewing booths, a large screen for promotional unspoolings and a computerized system for scheduling meetings between the 250 accredited buyers and sellers.
Shopping around
Other fest visitors -- such as distributor Trimark, here with Sundance fave "Slam" -- have also been finding their way to the market, hoping to take advantage of this opportunity to do business in the region.
After a slow start, with Strbova guiding less seasoned company reps through the basics, the market shifted into an easy pace.
Market's biggest benefactor could be the Czech film "Buttoners," short-listed for the European Film Academy Awards earlier this week in Karlovy Vary. By day three, it was sold for theatrical release to Rotterdam Festival Film Distribution in Holland and Continental Film in Slovakia, and television sales were in the works for Germany and Puerto Rico.
Landing deals
A music documentary on Bob Marley was picked up for the Czech Republic, and Holland's Contact Film picked up Len-film's "In That Land." Future co-production deals were also on the table.
Documentary filmmakers and producers huddled to discuss arrangements for a documentary co-production section within the film market next summer.
This year's offer to host market guests at the festival's expense proved a strong lure. Accreditation was triple the original target, scoring a first success for Strbova and her team. But with the free ride due to end next time out, the new market will face an even bigger test next year.
