The ECAM Forum, the new international joint production market, has just announced its main plans for its second edition, which will be held at the Madrid historical Matadero venue from 10 to 13 June.
To mark the importance of this rapid expansion industry initiative led by Madrid's renowned ECAM Film School, ICAA Director Ignasi Camós, held today at the Spanish Pavilion in Cannes, and representatives from the Madrid and Madrid City Council communities attended the event today.
After last year’s Star tee, the event was a launch pad with several ongoing works that continued in a festival such as “Hanami” in Los Angeles, “Ariel” in Rotterdam, “The God of Stone,” “The God of Rotter Stone,” and “Los Totoga” in Toronto, in Toronto, the 2025 film (coming soon) (now in development), and the launch of the show in development. The first time also includes additional international draft picks.
"We want to promote Spanish films internationally and attract international talent to work in Spain. We know that proposing choices and making international exciting talents coexist with promising projects in Spain is a better way to promote their films."
Up to 267 international functional projects have been submitted this year, more than 2024 Tally. To ensure the highest quality, the A-list of international industry professionals curated these projects, which will be allocated to more than 300 professionals.
The upcoming film committee consists of producers Zsuzsanna Kiraly (Swiss Flaneur Films), Agustina Chiarino (Bocacha, uruguay), Carla Sospedra (Edna Cinema, Spain) and programmer Les Hervé (Les Arcs Industry Village).
Starting with the 202 submissions, 15 projects were selected, namely national projects seeking international partners and international projects seeking co-produced with Spanish co-producers and joint companies. The joint production countries include Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Estonia.
The five future movies are automatic entries in this year's Ecam Incubator program: "(Big) RIP", "Grace's Face", "Bai, Bai, Bai", "Eel's Dilemma" and "I Breathe on Fire".
In a significant trend, after three rounds of review, all 15 selected projects were directed by women, a fact that Valverde emphasized.
Projects to be watched include Natalia Luque’s “A noble woman” starring Chilean star Catalina Saavedra; Sundance Award winner Francisca Alegría (“A Song to the Future”), hybrid “Inevitable Hospital of Desire” by Iran-born Maryam Tafakory, whose 2023 short-term “Mast-Del” was screened in two weeks of directorial director; María Herrera’s “Now You Go” (Goya’s Champion “Arquitectura emycional 1959”); and “ Zuria, the first feature of respected producer Leire Apellaniz ("Sacred Spirit"), was selected twice type Watch it among Spanish producers.
The last recommendation committee included programmers Gaia Furrer (Venice era), Violeta Bava (New York Film Festival, Venice Film Festival), Pamela Bienzobas (Locknow Film Festival) and writers /Philiter/Philiter/Philters Violeta Gil.
Eight final post-production titles from 65 applications spanning 12 co-production territories including Spain, Argentina, Peru, France, Germany and Romania.
Outstanding projects seeking festival, sales and top-up financing include the "Milk Teeth" co-produced by the five countries, the second chapter of Romania's Helmer Mihai Mincan ("North"); the "Big Fire" of the Colombian documentary "Before the Fire" written by Dox; and the debut feature of the rising talent, as well as "Anekumen" and Claudia Estrada Tarascó and "Wolf Grrrls".
The best project will receive a cash prize of €15,000 (USD 16,700) from Comunidad De in Madrid.
Discussing trends on the two main tone platforms of the ECAM Forum, Valverde said: “The selection covers a wide range of narrative and aesthetic approaches, as well as the presence of comedy, genre and sci-fi, documentary and classic novels. The selected projects show a boundary of challenging genres and stories, show passion for creative challenges, show boundaries of challenging, show boundaries of challenging and numerous risks and seconds, which we love. With the support of producers at home and internationally, I really think it’s a super exciting choice to discover new voices.”
In addition to the upcoming film and final push projects, short films now open to international projects in France, Greece, Czech Republic, Chile and Colombia will be held in Madrid along with the developing high-end series.
As previously announced, the French delegation will participate in two Spanish markets through a new partnership between the ECAM Forum and the Connecta Film and Entertainment.
French Auteur film producer Bertrand Bonello will work with Cineteca Madrid and Filmadrid Festival on June 12 to offer this year's ECAM Forum Masterclass on June 12.
Among the more than 300 attendees last year were top selling clothing Goodfellas, MK2, co-production offices, movie boutiques, and programmers from Sundance, Berlinale, Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Zurich, Marrakesh, Marrakesh and Series Mania.
Please note more details about the program, including the development series, closer to the ECAM forum.
Last push
“Anecum” (Irati Gorostidi Agirretxe, Spain)
Produced by Leire last name and Carmen Lacasa for Lord and Lady ("Sacred Spirit").
Next Step Critics Selectee Agirretxe centered on a socially dedicated drama during the 1978 strike. "I intend to reflect on the concept of collectivism and emphasize the political dimensions of individual and intimacy," said the rising filmmaker. With the support of the ICAA, the project was pre-sold to RTVE and EITB.
“balearic” (Ion de Sosa, France and Spain)
Night Factory Cinema
After the genre-curved "Mamántola" (San Sebastián Zabaltegi 2023), de Sosa turns to a survival drama with "Balearic", in which three ferocious dogs capture a group of young people in the swimming pool of luxury houses, diving into their luxury houses while neighbors celebrate summer festivities nearby. "It's a fable-like film that is divided into two parts, relaxingly exploring our older age situations," said De Soosa, film stars Christina Rosenvinge, Luka Péros and Maria Llopis.
"Before the Fire" ("Before the Fire", Ángel Giovanni Hoyos in Colombia, Germany)
Produced by Séptima movies and side films.
Hoyos' second documentary on the IDFA Producer Connection and CPH:DOX Forum, address colonialism and identity through the story of the Mapuche community in southern Argentina to regain the land of its ancestors.
"I conquered the city of Thebes last night" ("I won Thebes last night", Gabriel Azorín, Spain, Portugal)
Produced by Devein Films, Filmika Galaika in Spain and Pack Explosion in Portugal and received funds from ICAA, Agadic, ICA, RTVE, TVG, RTP and Ibermedia.
Depend on type As one of the 10 directors watching Spain in 2022, Azorín offers a double diode narrative in Roman Bathss, where a 21st century boy shares a hot bath with a 1st century Roman soldier, both reflecting his vulnerability. The project participated in the Rotterdam Darkroom, Venice Gap Financing Market, Ikusmira Berriak, Ecam Incubadora and Las Residencias de La Academia de Cine.
"milk" ("Milk Teeth", Mihai Mincan, Romania, France, Denmark, Greece, Bulgaria)
Co-produced by Defilm with Strom Pictures, Bauhaus and Screening Emotions.
After winning several awards of “North” (Venice Orizzonti 2022), Mincan’s second feature was set in the last few days of Ceaușescu’s regime in the Romanian regime. A ten-year-old girl becomes the last witness of her sister's mysterious disappearance and must find the courage to grow up in a collapsed world. The project won the Torino Film Lab 2023 Production Award.
"The Art of War" ("The Art of War", Greece Babier, Gonzalo Benavant Secoco, Peru)
By Autocinema, collaborated with Animalita and Micula Studio.
The documentary follows a new discovery archive related to Fanzine in the 1980s Art of Warguides the audience through a polymorphic portrait, in the reality and artistic expressions of the 1980s and 1990s, and the reality and artistic representations are blurred. "It's a sensory journey with multiple manifestations of violence," Babieri said.
“Wolf Grrrls” ("Lobas comes out", Belgium, Spain Claudia Estrasco
Produced by Alba Sotorra, Novak Prod and Vampire films.
Tarascó's debut highlights the resilience of young women in juvenile detention centers. It's a misunderstood teenager plan to escape the trap with new friends music competition. The project won the Film Award at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Lab.
“Don’t organize or clean my room, I love it” (“Don’t repair or clean my room”, Ignacio Ceroi, Argentina, France)
Produced by Cougars, Pioneer Movies and the house next door.
In 2019, Ceroi bought a used grocery store from France and found that the previous owner had never erased his video despite failed attempts to contact him. A few years later, Ceroi discovered clues about the man’s whereabouts after making a movie from the material.
The movie is coming soon
"Strange creature" ("Hybrid") Author of Ainhoa Bolaños, produced by Charli Bujosa Cortés, Mansalva Movie (Spain)
“La Linda” Francina Carbonell, produced by María Paz González and Gema Juárez Allen, produced with María (Chile), and produced with the gema movie (Argentina)
"born" ("Birth") Francisca Joy, produced by Giancarlo Nasi by Quixote Films (Chile)
"Since you're leaving" (“Since you’re gone”) María Herrera produced by Avalon (Spain)
“sukhte-del” ("Inevitable Hospital of Desire") Maryam Tafakory
"fantasy" ("Disillusion") Ingrid Pokropek, 36 horses (Argentina) produced by Juan Segundo Alamos (Argentina)
"White" Written by Leire Aplayan and produced by Nahikara Ipiña
"Missed a good presence" ("A Possible Woman") Natalia Luque by Rodrigo Díaz
"Animal Song" ("Animal Song") Written by Nerea Castro and produced by Katixa de Silva, produced by CSC Movie (Spain)
"painting" ("Painting") was produced by Paula Moreno Vergara, Esteban Hoyos García, by Esteban Hoyos García, Marianne Osttrat, Alexandra Film (Colombia, Estonia).
“(Great) Tears” ("(big)RIP") RaiMaría, produced by Cristina Hergueta, Garde (Spain)
"Holy Face" ("Faced by Grace") produced by Anna Martí Gomingo and Laura Santos Martí, produced by Mayca Sanz, Laura Rubirola, Allegra Films, Night Pictures (Spain)
"Bye-Bye" Written by Alba Corinas, produced by Alejandro González Clemente, MúboxStudio, Solita Films (Spain)
"Eel's Dilemma" Single Mountain, Single Girl, Single Single Grid
"Breathing Fire" ("I Breath on Fire") produced by Carmen Jiménez, David González Marcelo, Tatian Villacob, the film Jomora (Spain).