Festival Distribution
For filmmakers, a world premiere is the first highlight after completing their short film production and this can be groundbreaking for their further career. Yet the selection of a film at a festival is not a matter of chance, as naturally only films that have been submitted for consideration stand a chance of being presented and celebrated.
Submissions are generally managed by producers or directors. The financial effort involved in paying submission fees at film festivals is considerable, as is the enormous amount of work involved in handling submissions. Filmmakers can at least reduce this workload by making use of festival submission services - which in turn increases the financial outlay.
As of now, interfilm Berlin can provide assistance: The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture & the Media (BKM) has closed the gap in exploitation funding and now supports a festival distribution including a two-year submission service for German short film productions through interfilm Berlin.
The new festival distribution is managed by Lucy Pizaña and Anne Isensee with immediate effect. With their expertise, they will develop the ideal individual strategy for each short film, as well as handle submissions and communication between festivals and filmmakers. Lucy and Anne will also visit international short film festivals and markets to expand their networks and promote the films.
Participation in festival competitions is central to the promotion of short films. That is where they receive the greatest possible attention, both from the audience and from distributors, sales agents, broadcasters and production studios.
Through interfilm Berlin Festival Distribution, placement at festivals is systemised, professionalised and consolidated, thereby complementing the services offered to filmmakers by AG-Kurzfilm and German Films. Both festivals and filmmakers stand to benefit from this. Thus, filmmakers can concentrate on the essentials, namely producing and presenting great short films as well as celebrating premieres and award ceremonies.
Our festival distribution constantly takes in new German short film productions.
If you are interested, send us
via e.mail to: festivaldistribution@interfilm.de
After reviewing the film, we will get back to you as soon as possible. In case of selection, we will discuss the strategy and associated costs together.
Anne Isensee is an animation director and animator from Berlin. She studied Animation at Babelsberg Film University, École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs Paris and SVA New York as a Fulbright Scholar. Her short films are shown and awarded at international film festivals. She gives lectures and workshops at film festivals, at universities and social initiatives and teaches "Drawn Animation" at UE Germany, Berlin. Since 2021 she is a board member of AG Animationsfilm (ASIFA Germany).
Lucy Pizaña, born in Mexico City, completed her Master's program in Film Cultural Heritage at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, following her undergraduate studies in Film and Theater Studies (BA) at the Freie Universität Berlin. Over the years, Lucy has immersed herself in various aspects of the film industry, including organizing and curating film festivals such as the Berlinale. She has also played pivotal roles in conference coordination, film distribution, and contributed to the activities of the DEFA Foundation. Currently, Lucy is engaged in research on Jewish film festivals at the Film University Babelsberg and serves as the co-head of the new festival distribution branch at interfilm Berlin.
