Berlinale European Film Market 2026

The European Film Market (EFM), taking place from February 12 to 18, 2026 as a key part of the 76th Berlinale, officially launches its new edition with an expanded programme, new strategic partnerships, and a continued focus on innovation and cross-sector collaboration to reflect the evolving needs of the global audiovisual industry.

Festival Director Tricia Tuttle comments: “The work that Tanja Meissner and her team at European Film Market deliver is an absolutely vital part of the Berlinale. They support film businesses who ensure cultural cinema reaches audiences around the world. It’s also great to see the energy that EFM are putting into the future – from focussing on digital innovation and expanded emphasis on different forms to creating pathways into the business for new talent. This is why it continues to be a must-attend market bringing tens of thousands of professionals from over 130 countries to Berlin during the festival each year.”

The first edition of the EFM Animation Days marks a major expansion of the Market’s portfolio. Over three days, the programme gathers global animation creatives, studios, producers, buyers, financiers and cross-IP partners for curated showcases, pitch formats, case studies, workshops and networking opportunities.

Part of the new initiative is the Annecy Animation Showcase EFM, curated by MIFA and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, showing a selection of animated works in progress ready for the second half of 2026 and targeted towards buyers and festival programmers.  

Berlinale Pro Director Tanja Meissner comments: “The EFM Animation Days is a vital new initiative that champions a very creative and dynamic sector, in which also Europe provides a very export-ready world-class pipeline. Showcasing the extraordinary talent and creativity that drive the European animation industry is both an industrialeconomic and a cultural imperative. The global animation sector is built on excellence and innovation, and we are committed to support producers and studios as they navigate transformation.”

The EFM Animation Days are made possible thanks to the support of the regional fund MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung.

In 2026, Berlinale Pro introduces EFM Beyond, a new programme cluster dedicated to innovative market strategies and cross-media collaboration. Bringing together film, animation, gaming, and adjacent creative sectors such as story-based XR, EFM Beyond provides a platform where future-facing creativity, cutting-edge technology and business innovation meet. The training programme is targeted towards producers and will mainly unfold in the EFM Producers Hub on the second floor of the Gropius Bau. At the heart are very practice-oriented upskilling workshops like creating additional revenue streams by expanding IP across multiple media, a worldbuilding session as well as a Cross-IP accelerator organised in collaboration with SpielFabrique and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

This year, the EFM Innovation Hub emerged as the first central venue for exhibiting cutting-edge production technologies, showcasing the latest tools and practical applications across the second floor of the Gropius Bau. Once again, there will be daily targeted networking sessions offering a complementary environment that connects professionals across film, animation, gaming and XR.

Market-accredited producers can further build new competence in a wide range of expert-led workshops on marketing, distribution or virtual production.

Like every year, the curated startup selection introduces ten international media-tech entrepreneurs, whose solutions span production, distribution, rights management, exhibition and audience engagement. The programme connects emerging innovators with producers, distributors, financiers and decision-makers, underscoring the EFM’s distinctive role as the only market where startups gain traction by being highlighted in their own section.

EFM Startup alumni include, for example FilmChain, Respeecher, Publikum, Largo.ai and Phont – just to name a few.   

EFM Beyond, the startups programme and the Producers Hub are made possible with the support of Creative Europe MEDIA. 

Following the success of last year’s pilot format, the Investors Forum assembles again the industry’s premier film and media finance leaders for a dynamic day of high-level exchanges and peer to peer dialogue. Held against the backdrop of EFM activities ranging from coproduction, distribution, and innovation across fiction, documentary, animation, and series, the Investors Forum provides a unique context for investors looking to understand the evolving balance and current developments between private and public funding.

New in 2026, the Berlinale Film School Summit welcomes up to 100 selected directing and producing students from leading film schools worldwide. Participants gain exclusive access to the Berlinale Pro universe and the Market alongside tailored workshops, masterclasses and structured networking formats. The summit strengthens early international collaboration, bridging the gap between academic training and professional practice.

Also new this year are several WIP and pitching sessions, including the EFM Far East in Progress WIP selection, a new partnership of EFM with EAVE Ties that Bind and Focus Asia (Udine Far East Film Festival). The curated showcase will present brand-new Asian films in post-production, ready to make their debut at fall markets and festivals.

Furthermore, under the new banner EFM Frontières Focus, five bold and innovative international genre projects in advanced financing, production or early post-production will be highlighted.

In 2026, the EFM spotlights Morocco as its Country in Focus, highlighting the exceptional production landscape and co-production potential. Through curated pitching sessions, showcases and networking events, the EFM sheds a spotlight on one of the most dynamic creative countries in the MENA region.

The Berlinale Series Market (BSM) also returns with an expanded line-up of project-driven activities. Among this year’s highlights is Series Match, a new initiative presented in collaboration with Iberseries & Platino Industria, connecting Ibero-American and German producers working on early-stage series projects. The BSM also introduces “Series Talks” at the CinemaxX lounge, transforming the space into a networking and showcase hub.

Partnering with FFF Bayern, the DocSalon is the Berlinale’s widely acclaimed networking platform for nonfiction professionals. On February 17, the Archive Market offers a dedicated platform for exploring restored classics, archival research, heritage re-releases and restoration. New this year is a special focus on animated documentaries as part of the EFM Animation Days.

From Feb 13 to 16, the EFM conference programme will bring together leading industry voices for four days of talks, masterclasses, and panel discussions. Participants will explore the most inspiring case studies and emerging trends shaping the current global filmmaking, like innovative business models, audience engagement and market consolidation.

The EFM 2026 is supported by a range of national and international partners.

The EFM Industry Programme with its various initiatives is co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA. The EFM Animation Days are also funded by MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, while EFM Toolbox receives additional support from Hessen Film & Medien and the Canada Media Fund and the DocSalon from FFF Bayern.

The Berlinale Series Market (BSM) is supported by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW as main partner, with additional support from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) and Variety as media partner.

The European Film Market is part of Berlinale Pro, which unites the European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund. Berlinale Pro is the festival’s full-circle industry infrastructure that serves the global film industry as incubator, enhancer and supporter in all stages of film development, production, sales and distribution.