Film Centre of Montenegro will participate for the first time in the American Film Market, taking place online November 9-13 in Santa Monica (Los Angeles).
American Film Market is one the most important industry events in the USA for the development and distribution of independent films, organized since 1981 by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), a trade association headquartered in Los Angeles that represents companies that finance, produce and license independent film and television programming worldwide.
Film Centre of Montenegro will participate in LocationEXPO segment for the very first time, where it will showcase Film in Montenegro, a programme that promotes Montenegro as a film-friendly destination through the presentation of film locations and other film potentials of the country, as well as through the cash rebate programme to foreign producers.
Due to the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, all American Film Market programmes will be held online this year. During the five-day event, some 7,000 attendes are expected from over 70 countries around the world.
Managing Director of Film Centre of Montenegro, Sehad Čekić, sees the Centre’s premiere participation in the American Film Market as a great opportunity for Montenegro to present itself directly to the American film community within the LocationEXPO, a programme that showcases filming locations to producers from all around the world.
„Film Center of Montenegro, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, has recognized Film in Montenegro programme as one of the key development routes for the country’s cinematographic sector, and the efforts made so far have already brought results. Since the establishment of the Centre, Montenegro’s film potentials has been showcased at all major film festivals and markets, and the AFM, as the most important film market on the American continent, represents a very important milestone for us. Incentivizing foreign film crews to film in Montenegro brings direct benefits to our home-grown filmmakers, but also has a very stimulating effect on the toursim sector in our country, especially in the off-season months.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible for us to participate in person in this prestigious film market, forcing us to showcase Montenegro’s film potentials virtually. But I am confident that, despite all the obstacles and limitations of a virtual market, international producers will recognize the potential that our country offers and that our participation in the American Film Market will result in increased interest in filming in Montenegro.“