24 European Film & TV Markets Form F.A.M.E. Alliance to Boost Industry Collaboration

29 November 2024

Twenty-four European film and TV markets, including Locarno Pro and Mifa Annecy, have launched the F.A.M.E. Alliance to enhance their roles in Europe’s audiovisual sector. The alliance will promote industry diversity, create a strategic platform, and advocate for the sector while addressing challenges like environmental impacts and rising costs.

Locarno Film Festival

Switzerland

Twenty-four leading European film and television markets have come together to launch the F.A.M.E. (Film and Audiovisual Markets in Europe) Alliance. This collaborative initiative aims to bolster the pivotal role these markets play in supporting the development, financing, and distribution of audiovisual works across Europe.

The alliance emerged from three think tank meetings in 2023 that explored the future of European film markets. Founding members include prominent industry platforms such as Agora TiFF and Agora TiDF in Thessaloniki, CineLink Industry Days in Sarajevo, and Locarno Pro in Switzerland. Others include Mifa Annecy in France and the Zurich Film Festival Industry.

F.A.M.E. has been established in response to a rapidly evolving landscape for physical markets, impacted by the pandemic’s acceleration of virtual technologies and growing concerns over sustainability and rising costs. The alliance is committed to emphasizing the critical role of its members in nurturing over 3,000 projects annually, spanning films, documentaries, series, games, and more.

In a statement, the alliance described its creation as "a pivotal moment," highlighting that markets are indispensable hubs for development, financing, and networking. They also serve as incubators for new media, technologies, and narratives that shape the European audiovisual landscape.

F.A.M.E. underscored the necessity of diversity within the industry, advocating for markets of various sizes and orientations spread geographically and chronologically. “Prioritize regional needs is the only way to respond to the unique demands and cultural expressions of the European mosaic,” the statement noted.

The alliance also plans to create a comprehensive data platform to provide insights into production and distribution while enhancing collaboration among its members. As a lobby group, F.A.M.E. will represent its members in discussions with national and European funding bodies, championing the benefits of a vibrant and diverse market ecosystem.