The Village International hosts 44 countries

When it was inaugurated in 2000, the Village International was inhabited by only eight countries. In just nine years, the village has grown in great bounds, presenting 44 film territories housed in the white pavilion tents along the beach. Created to offer to the different film industries an open window to promote their films, the “villagers” are also present to promote their festivals, film commissions, shoot locations on offer and to organize co-production meetings or cinch deals.

“We are very proud to welcome Egypt to the village for the first time,” claimed Myriam Arab, director of operations, marketing and sales. “They have come in full force, having created a bridge between their pavilion and their stand in the Film Market for their film professionals. Italy is back in the Film Market and Lebanon. Of course the usual participants are back such as Germany and Canada, but also some of the emerging countries such as Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, along with Tunisia and Morocco, and since last year, Colombia.”

There are a total of 60 pavilions divided into two sections, explained Ms Arab, “The Village International Riviera extends from the beach in front of the Hotel Majestic and continues around the bay to the Plage des Palmes. Another 17 pavilions are in the Village Pantiero portside, which groups together French institutions such as Unifrance, the CNC and Film France which promotes France for film shoots.”

Co-production meetings are at the center of several Film Market programs, notably the Producers Network, Cinefondation or Atelier. Those producers quite naturally continue financing discussions at their own homeland pavilions. Many films pitched in the Village are being shown in the Competition or Un Certain Regard.

“The Village International is also where the many festival directors come to flush out the different films as potential fare for their events. It is also a place for convivial meetings over cocktails, all steeped in a very dynamic atmosphere,” concluded Ms Arab.