Un total de 130 proyectos de 17 países se inscriben en el MAFF, Málaga Festival Fund&CoproductionEvent

Star project of the new Industry zone of the Malaga Festival, the MAFF aims to weave new work networks and generate co-production businesses in the international market.

The first call to participate in the MAFF – Málaga Festival Fund&CoproductionEvent, closed on January 15, has been a complete success. A total of 130 Latin American projects from 17 countries have registered in this new forum framed in the new MAFIZ industry area, in which professionals from the Latin American and European film industry will meet, within the framework of the 21st Malaga Festival. Cinema in Spanish (April 13 to 22, 2018), to build new work networks and generate co-production businesses in the international market.

El MAFF – Málaga Festival Fund&CoproductionEvent es un espacio de industria que will allow Latin American producers to meet and present their projects to those responsible for the main international funds and producers in Spain and the rest of Europe. This event is born from a collective effort promoted by the Malaga City Council, organized by the Malaga Festival and in alliance with CNC – aideauxcinémas du monde, EAVE, HubertBalsFund, Sørfond, World Cinema Fund, Doha Film Institut, Visión Sudest, Film MarketHub, Arab Cinema Center, ICAA, FIPCA, Junta de Andalucía and EGEDA (Producers' Rights Management Entity Audiovisual).

The MAFF, which It will be held on April 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, is aimed at Latin American projects, which are the first or second work of the director/director, in the genres of fiction, documentary and animation feature films, which are in the advanced development phase. Of the 130 presented, the countries that bring together the greatest number of projects have been Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

A selection committee made up of audiovisual experts, of recognized prestige from both Europe and Latin America, will choose 18 projects from among the 130 presented. The main purpose of the selection of projects will be to promote the artistic and creative talent of the participating directors and will take into account the capacity and potential of the project to access the international market. The announcement of the selected projects will take place within the framework of the Berlin International Film Festival and during the celebration of Ibero-American Cinema Day, organized by the Cervantes Institute, Ibermedia and CACI.

During MAFF, the selected teams will have the opportunity to present their projects to invited specialists (international funds and production companies) and have individual meetings with the participants. Additionally, they will be eligible for the following prizes:

• EAVE, European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs, will award one of the selected projects to participate in its Puentes Program, which will take place in November 2018.
• Film Market Hub, a MAFF collaborator, will grant all selected projects a year of free registration in its online market. In this way, in addition to their participation in the forums, the projects will be able to connect online with an entire network of producers and companies in Europe and Latin America. The objective is that after their time at MAFF they have more visibility and opportunities to find interested co-producers.
• SØRFOND, Southern Norway Film Fund, will award a project selected at MAFF 2018 to participate in SØRFOND PitchingForum, in November 2018.

He MAFF is part of the new Industry Zone of the Malaga Festival, which encompasses a set of events designed to strengthen Ibero-American film productions. The MAFIZ (Málaga Festival IndustryZone) is made up of six events that promote the financing, co-production, distribution and sale of cinema in Spanish. The support and promotion of new Latin American audiovisual talent is the transversal objective of this broad industrial area, which has the sponsorship and support of FIPCA (Ibero-American Federation of Cinematographic and Audiovisual Producers).

MAFIZ

The MAFIZ is completed with five other projects:

· Los SpanishScreenings – Málaga de Cine, an event organized by the Malaga Festival and the Malaga City Council, with the sponsorship of the ICAA (Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts); ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones, Junta de Andalucía and EGEDA (Entity for the Management of Rights of Audiovisual Producers), is an international platform for the sale and promotion of cinema in Spanish.

· Latin American Focus, a bilateral meeting between Spain and a Latin American country with the aim of strengthening networking and co-productions of production companies from both countries. This year, the guest country will be Brazil.

· Málaga Docs, a meeting for analysis and reflection on documentaries, where the most important professionals of this genre meet to share their perspective on Latin American documentary cinema.

· Málaga Work in Progress, whose objective is to promote the financing of Latin American films in the production phase to promote their completion and international distribution.

· Málaga Talent, a bridge between industry and talent, between Spain and Latin America. Promoting knowledge of professional teams and building creative synergies are its objectives.