Editor

Elin Erichsen, Head of Development at the Norwegian Film Institute and Frank Stehling, CEO of PRIMEHOUSE, Berlin, presented the recently developed programme for producers PRIMEXCHANGE Norway-Germany at the Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund (August 20-27, 2009).

The programme, initiated by the Norwegian Film Institute and realised by PRIMEHOUSE, targets Norwegian film producers interested in the German market and German producers seeking co-production opportunities in Norway. The training programme offers producers from both countries intensive consultation regarding their project's chances on the German market during the early packaging stages.
Each project's potential and opportunities for further development are analysed concisely with leading experts from the areas of script development, market analysis, financing, distribution, world sales and games. The programme includes in-depth lectures on the structure and composition of German film funding institutions and on production conditions in Germany. The aim is to support cooperation between Norwegian and German producers and to establish and respectively strengthen contacts between the German and the Norwegian markets.

PRIMEXCHANGE Norway-Germany could not have better timing, as the Norwegian Minister for Culture Trond Giske informed during the festival in Haugesund that he has signed the "European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production”. Norway is thus the 40th country to ratify the Convention, which was established to encourage European financial co-productions. By joining the Convention, Norway considerably enhances the opportunities for prospective co-productions.

PRIMEXCHANGE Norway-Germany will take place in Berlin from September 29 to October 3.
The application fee is 50 Euro. (Participation is free for the producers of selected projects). Application deadline is September 15, 2009.
The application form and further information can be found at www.prime-house.de/xchange-norway.html